SERMON, 

DELIVERED    AT   WESTON, 
JANUARY  12,  1813, 

ON  THE 

TERMINATION  OF  A  CENTURY 


SINCE    THE 


INCORPORATION    OF    THE    TOWN. 


BY  SAMUEL  KENDAL,  D.D. 

Minister  of  said  town. 


PUBLISHED  A<T  THE  REQUEST  OF  THE  HEARER' 


CAMBRIDGE : 

PRINTED    BY    HILI.IAHD    AND    METCALF. 


1813. 


SERMON, 

DELIVERED    AT    WESTON, 

JANUARY  12,  1813, 

ON  THE 

TERMINATION  OF  A  CENTURY 

SINCE    THE 

INCORPORATION    OF    THE    TOWN, 


BY  SAMUEL  KENDAL,  D.D. 

Minister  of  said  town. 


PUBLISHED  AT  ?HE  REQUEST  OF  <THE  HEARERS. 


CAMBRIDGE  : 

PRINTED    BY    HILLIAB.D    AND    METCALF. 

1813. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  MASSACHUSETTS 
AT  AMHERST 


UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 

Special  Collections  &  Rare  Books 


CENTURY  SERMON, 


PSALM  lxxvii.  5. 

I    HAVE    CONSIDERED    THE    DAYS    OF    OLD,    THE    YEARS    OF 
ANCIENT    TIMES. 

Xo  examine  the  records  of  antiquity  is  not  an  idle 
curiosity,  nor  useless  labour.  They  not  only  gratify 
an  inquisitive  mind,  but  impart  profitable  instruction 
to  every  succeeding  generation.  They  exhibit  virtues 
worthy  of  imitation,  or  rear  beacons  to  admonish  those 
who  live  in  subsequent  times  of  the  dangers  to  which 
they  are  exposed.  If  reviewed  with  attention,  and 
applied  with  care,  by  such  as  come  upon  the  stage  at 
later  periods,  many  evils  might  be  avoided,  or  advan- 
tages secured,  which  are  felt,  or  not  enjoyed,  because 
men  do  not  permit  clays  to  speak,  and  the  multitude  of 
years  to  teach  wisdom. 

We  can  contemplate  transactions  and  events  of  a 
remote  date  without  that  excitement  and  interest, 
which  those  of  a  similar  nature,  passing  in  our  own 
time,  often  produce  in  our  feelings ;  and  we  can  always 
judge  best  what  is  right  when  passion  and  interest  have 
the  least  influence  on  our  decision.  By  the  judgment 
we  pass  upon  men  and  things  of  former  days  we  fix 
a  kind  of  standard  for  our  own  conduct,  placing  in 


view  the  virtues  to  be  imitated,  and  the  errours  to  be 
avoided.  It  is  therefore  a  dictate  of  sound  wisdom,  and 
of  common  prudence,  to  consider  the  days  of  old,  the 
years  of  ancient  times.  In  this  way  we  become  conver- 
sant with  our  fathers,  who  long  since  have  slept  in  the 
dust,  and  receive  instruction  from  them,  and  from  what 
passed  in  their  day.  Though  dead,  they  yet  speak  to 
their  offspring  in  the  records  of  their  deeds,  or  in  the 
historick  page. 

When  we  look  back  to  their  time,  we  trace,  and 
are  constrained  to  acknowledge,  the  hand  of  a  merci- 
ful providence  protecting  and  directing  them,  sustain- 
ing them  in  their  trials,  crowning  their  enterprises 
with  success,  and  giving  them  a  permanent  establish- 
ment in  this  land. 

What  God  did  for  our  fathers  had  a  distant  rela- 
tion to  us  their  descendants,  and  continues  to  have  an 
effect  on  our  condition.  Contemplating  the  ways  of 
providence  in  past  ages,  and  considering  the  events 
which  had  a  remote  bearing  upon  the  destinies  of  the 
present  generation,  we  discover  motives  to  gratitude 
and  obedience,  and  find  encouragement  to  cherish 
humble  confidence  in  the  wisdom  and  goodness  of  the 
divine  government. 

Convinced  of  its  general  utility  and  happy  moral 
tendency,  Moses,  a  little  before  his  death,  gave  to  Israel 
this  command  :  "  Remember  the  days  of  old,  consider 
the  years  of  many  generations  ;  ask  thy  father,  and  he 
will  shew  thee ;  thy  elders,  and  they  will  tell  thee." 
The  psalmist  recognises  this  precept,  and  teaches  its 
use  and  design.  "  Give  ear,  Q  my  people,  to  my  law  ; 


incline  your  ear  to  the  words  of  my  mouth.  I  will 
open  my  mouth  in  a  parable ;  I  will  utter  dark  sayings 
of  old ;  which  we  have  heard  and  known,  and  our 
fathers  have  told  us.  We  will  not  hide  them  from 
their  children,  shewing  to  the  generation  to  come,  the 
praises  of  the  Lord,  and  his  strength,  and  his  wonder- 
ful works  that  he  hath  done.  For  he  established  a  tes- 
timony in  Jacob,  and  appointed  a  law  in  Israel ;  which 
he  commanded  our  fathers,  that  they  should  make 
them  known  to  their  children ;  that  the  generation  to 
come  might  know  them,  even  the  children  which 
should  be  born ;  who  should  arise  and  declare  them 
to  their  children  ;  that  they  might  set  their  hope  in 
God,  and  not  forget  the  xvorks  of  God;  but  keep  his 
commandments"  By  this  law  each  preceding  was  re- 
quired to  instruct  the  succeeding  generation  in  those 
things  which  belonged  to  the  early  history  of  that  peo- 
ple, and  to  rehearse  to  the  young  the  events  of  former 
days.  The  object  of  this  law  in  Israel  was,  that  the 
children  might  see  and  avoid  the  sins  and  provocations 
of  their  fathers,  perceive  the  hand  of  God  in  all  that 
happened  to  them,  place  their  own  hope  in  him,  and 
keep  his  commandments.  The  same  valuable  pur- 
poses may  still  be  answered  by  recurring  to  antiquity, 
and,  as  it  were,  bringing  our  fathers  again  upon  the 
stage  of  action,  and  taking  counsel  from  them.  It 
may  be  as  useful  to  us,  as  it  was  designed  to  be  to 
Israel,  to  consider  the  days  of  old,  the  years  of  ancient 
times,  and  notice  both  the  virtues  and  errours  of  those 
that  have  gone  before  us,  and  mark  the  footsteps  of 
divine  providence  in  respect  to  the  settlement  of  New 
England. 


The  present  is  a  period  which  invites  us  to  review 
ancient  times.  On  this  day  we  complete  a  century 
since  the  incorporation  of  the  town.  In  the  publick 
register,  taken  from  the  state  records,  as  I  hnd  by  com- 
paring them,  the  act  of  incorporation  is  dated  Jan.  1, 
.1712,  without  the  double  dating,  1712-13,  usual  at 
that  period.  This  circumstance,  which  is  not,  I  be- 
lieve, peculiar  to  Weston,  is  calculated  to  lead  into 
errour  with  respect  to  the  true  date  of  events.  Had 
January  been  then  reckoned  the  first  month  of  the 
year,  the  date  of  the  act  of  incorporation  would  have 
stood,  Jan.  1,  1713,  which,  allowing  the  difference -of 
eleven  days  between  Old  and  New  Style,  brings  the 
close  of  the  century  to  Jan.  12,  1813. 

In  proof  of  the  correctness  of  this  statement,  I 
shall  adduce  what  I  think  will  be  deemed  conclusive 
evidence.  Mr.  Williams,  then  the  minister  of  this 
place,  made  an  entry  in  the  book  of  church  records  in 
these  words,  "  A  brief  and  true  record  of  the  ecclesi- 
astical affairs  of  the  church,  in  the  west  part  of  Water- 
town,  commonly  called  JFatertown  Farms — made  a 
distinct  town  Jan.  1,  1712-13,  and  called  Weston" 
With  this  agree  the  records  of  the  precinct,  and  of  the 
first  town  meeting,  called  by  a  warrant  from  a  justice 
of  the  peace,  to  be  holden,  March  2, 1712-13.  But, 
what  is  decisive  upon  the  point,  Watertown  records 
state  that  the  petition  of  the  Farmers  to  be  dismissed, 
in  order  to  their  being  a  township,  was  laid  before  the 
town,  May  12,  1712,  and  that  the  prayer  of  it  was 
granted,  under  certain  stipulations,  Dec.  2,  1712. 
These  dates  are  subsequent  to  that  which  some  have 


supposed  the  true  date  of  the  incorporation  of  the 
town.  The  separate  records  now  adduced,  which 
were  made  by  different  persons  at  the  same  time,  and 
in  different  books,  are  sufficient  to  correct  the  errour, 
and  to  shew  that  we  have  fixed  the  close  of  the  century 
in  the  proper  year.  I  have  been  thus  particular  on 
this  subject,  because  I  apprehend  that,  for  want  of  at- 
tention to  it,  frequent  mistakes  are  committed  as  to 
the  true  dates  of  events. 

Without  confining  myself  to  the  century  now 
closed,  or  to  things  that  relate  to  this  town  only,  I  shall 
occupy  the  time  allotted  on  this  occasion  with  some 
general  observations,  historical  sketches,  and  reflec- 
tions.    As  Cowper  has  elegantly  said — 

"  God  moves  in  a  mysterious  way, 

His  counsels  to  perform ! 
He  marks  his  footsteps  on  the  sea, 

And  rides  upon  the  storm!" 

This  sentiment  applies  to  the  state  of  our  fathers 
in  their  native  country,  to  their  crossing  the  mighty 
deep,  and  to  their  gaining  possession  of  this  good  land. 
As,  when  Israel  was  about  to  be  delivered  from  their 
Egyptian  bondage,  so  when  our  ancestors  were  to  be 
freed  from  oppression,  and  transported  to  a  land  of 
freedom,  there  were  preparatory  events.  In  both 
cases  tyranny  hastened  the  accomplishment  of  the 
grand  designs  of  providence. 

Before  our  fathers  left  England  the  principles  of 
the  reformation  had  taken  deep  root  in  that  island, 
and  the  protestant  religion  become  the  establish- 
ed religion  of  the  country.     Many,  however,  were 


8 

for  carrying  the  reformation  to  what  they  conceived 
a  greater  degree  of  perfection  than  they  found  in  the 
national  establishment.  A  purer  church,  a  more 
simple  mode  of  worship,  and  stricter  discipline  were 
principal  objects  with  the  most  zealous  reformers 
of  early  times.  Hence,  if  not  from  any  extraordinary 
sanctity  of  their  life  and  conversation,  they  acquired 
the  appellation  of  Puritans.  They  received  this  name 
about  the  middle  of  the  sixteenth  century.  Acces-  - 
sions  were  made  to  their  numbers  of  distinguished 
characters  among  the  clergy  and  laity.  The  dominant 
party,  who  were  friends  to  the  national  church,  or  dig- 
nitaries in  it,  attempted,  under  the  authority  of  gov- 
ernment, to  enforce  uniformity  in  the  mode  of  worship. 
This,  like  all  other  attempts  to  overrule  the  conscience 
by  mere  authority,  only  strengthened  the  resolution  of 
the  Puritans,  and  induced  others  to  examine  and  es- 
pouse their  cause.  The  consequence  was  a  fixed  de- 
termination in  no  inconsiderable  portion  of  the  best 
men  in  the  nation  not  to  conform  to  the  established 
mode  of  worship.  Hence  the  name  of  Nonconformists. 
This  resistance  wounded  prelatical  pride  and  ambition, 
and  called  the  spirit  of  persecution  into  activity.  The 
rod  of  power  fell  upon  the  Puritans,  or  Nonconformists, 
with  various  degrees  of  severity.  Ministers  were  si- 
lenced, or  punished  with  rigour  for  attempting  to  per- 
form their  sacred  functions.*  Among  these  many 
were  eminent  for  learning  and  piety. 

*  As  late  as  1662,  after  the  restoration  of  Charles  II,  a 
severe  edict  was  passed,  requiring;  uniformity  in  worship,  and 
by  virtue  of  it  two  thousand  ministers  arc  said  to  have  been 
ejected  from  their  office  and  livings. 


After  these  things  had  been  long  endured  in  Eng- 
land, and  were  still  experienced  by  the  Puritans,  with 
various  aggravations,  America  offered  an  asylum  to 
the  oppressed.  With  humble  confidence  in  God,  and 
an  invincible  fortitude  of  mind,  they  determined  to 
seek  a  retreat  in  a  wilderness,  where  they  hoped  to 
enjoy  civil  and  religious  liberty.  With  astonishing 
efforts,  patience,  and  perseverance,  they  pursued  and 
obtained  the  object.  The  American  desert,  and  its 
savage  inhabitants  received  these  outcasts,  or  volunta- 
ry exiles,  from  their  native  land. 

A  regard  to  truth  requires  it  to  be  distinctly  stated, 
that  the  Puritans  did  not  differ  from  the  established 
church  of  England  in  articles  of  faith,  or  points  of  doc- 
trine ;  but  in  modes  of  worship,  and  in  ecclesiastical 
government.  Our  fathers  disclaimed  the  idea  of  sep- 
arating from  that  church  on  account  of  its  doctrines ; 
but  they  could  not  be  reconciled  to  the  hierarchy,  nor 
adopt  its  rituals.  They  however  viewed  it  as  a  true 
church,  engaged  in  defence  of  the  protestant  cause. 

In  proof  of  the  correctness  of  these  observations, 
we  adduce  the  following  evidence :  Mr.  Francis  Hig- 
ginson,  a  sufferer  for  his  nonconformity  in  that  country, 
and  afterward  a  minister  of  the  first  church  planted  in 
Massachusetts,  when  the  vessel.,  in  which  he  had  em- 
barked for  New  England,  came  to  the  land's  end,  call- 
ed his  children  and  other  passengers  together,  and 
thus  addressed  them  :  "  We  will  not  say  as  the  sepa- 
ratists were  wont  to  say  at  their  leaving  of  England, 
Farewell  Babylon  !  Farewell  Rome  !  But  we  will  say, 
Farewell  dear  England  !    Farewell  the  church  of  God 


10 

iii  England,  and  all  christian  friends  there  !  We  do 
not  go  to  New  England  as  separatists  from  the  church 
of  England,  though  we  cannot  but  separate  from  the 
corruptions  in  it,  but  we  go  to  practise  the  positive 
part  of  church  reformation,  and  to  propagate  the  gos- 
pel in  America."* 

The  synod  that  met  at  Cambridge,  1648,  compos- 
ed of  elders  and  messengers  from  the  churches  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, in  their  preface  to  the  Platform  drawn  up- 
b)'  them,  express  themselves  thus  :  "  Our  churches 
here,  as  (by  the  grace  of  Christ)  we  believe  and  pro- 
fess the  same  doctrine  of  the  truth  of  the  gospel,  which 
generally  is  received  in  all  the  reformed  churches  of 
Christ  in  Europe,  so  especially  we  desire  not  to  vary 
from  the  doctrine  cf  faith  and  truth  held  forth  by  the 
churces  of  our  native  country.  For  though  it  be  not 
one  native  country  that  can  breed  us  all  to  one  mind  ; 
nor  ought  we  to  have  the  glorious  faith  of  our  Lord  Je- 
sus with  respect  to  persons,  yet  as  Paul,  who  was  him- 
self a  Jew,  professed  to  hold  forth  the  doctrine  of  jus- 
tification by  faith,  and  of  the  resurrection  of  the  dead, 
according  as  he  knew  his  godly  country-men  did,  who 
were  Jews  by  nature,  (Gal.  ii,  15.  Acts  xxvi,  6,  7.) 
so  we,  who  are  by  nature  English-men,  do  desire  to 
hold  forth  the  same  doctrine  of  religion  (especially  in 
fundamentals)  which  we  see  and  know  to  be  held  by 
the  churches  of  England,  according  to  the  truth  of  the 
gospel." 

It  appears  that,  in  the  estimation  of  the  first  di- 
vines and  churches  of  Massachusetts,  the   English 
*  Eliot's  Biog.  Diet.  p.  2>2. 


11 

church  had  embraced  the  true  protestant  faith,  and 
that  circumstantials  only  were  the  ground  of  difference 
between  that  church  and  the  Puritans,  or  Noncon- 
formists. On  this  ground,  however,  our  fathers  ex- 
perienced great  privation,  vexation,  and  suffering.  If 
it  be  said,  on  the  one  hand,  that  they  were  too  ardent, 
and  that  they  were  actuated  by  a  spirit  of  enthusiasm ; 
it  must  be  allowed,  on  the  other,  that  they  were  cru- 
elly oppressed,  and  that,  in  general,  they  preserved  a 
fair  character.  But,  strange  as  it  may  seem,  when 
they  were  fixed  in  this  country,  they  discovered  but 
little  less  zeal  to  preserve  uniformity  in  faith  and  wor- 
ship, than  those  had  done,  from  whose  persecuting 
measures  they  fled  into  the  American  wilderness. 
They  were  too  deeply  tinctured  with  the  spirit  of  the 
times.  But,  after  every  deduction  candour  will  ad- 
mit, or  even  malice  suggest,  their  characters  were  tru- 
ly venerable,  and  ought  to  be  held  in  admiration  by 
their  descendants. 

The  energies  of  man,  some  of  the  strongest  fea- 
tures in  the  human  character,  are  called  into  exercise, 
or  displayed,  in  times  of  peculiar  trial.  Borne 
down  with  oppression,  but  entertaining  a  high  sense 
of  civil  and  religious  freedom,  our  fathers  conceived 
the  plan  of  resigning  all  the  comforts  and  convenien- 
ces of  their  native  soil,  crossing  an  ocean  three  thou- 
sand miles  in  breadth,  and  planting  themselves  in  an 
unexplored  wilderness.  This  was  a  hazardous  under- 
taking, a  bold  design,  which  their  more  effeminate 
sons  would  hardly  conceive  and  execute  without  a  suc- 
cessful example  to  encourage  their  hope. 


12 

Religious  motives  had  a  predominant  influence: 
with  the  first  emigrants  to  this  country.  Hope  in  God 
was  their  support,  and  his  providence  their  protection. 

In  1620  a  company  of  101  persons  arrived  on  this 
coast,  late  in  the  season,  landed  at  Plymouth,  and  laid 
the  foundation  of  that  colony. 

Within  the  five  succeeding  years  Massachusetts 
Bay  was  explored,  and  a  settlement  attempted  at  Cape 
Ann ;  but  Naumkeak,  afterwards  called  Salem,  was 
chosen  as  a  more  convenient  place  for  a  plantation. 
Progress  was  made  in  the  three  following  years  in  pre- 
paration to  settle  a  colony  in  Massachusetts.  A  pro- 
ject was  formed,  in  particular,  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  White 
of  Dorchester,  England,  for  providing  an  asylum  in 
this  colony  for  silenced  nonconformist  ministers.  The 
grantees  favoured  the  design.  In  1628  Mr.  John  En- 
dicot  with  others  came  over,  and  commenced  a  per- 
manent settlement  at  Salem,  the  first  town  that  was 
planted  in  Massachusetts.  In  1629  an  accession  was 
made  to  their  number.  The  Rev.  Samuel  Skelton, 
Rev.  Francis  Higginson,  and  about  two  hundred  oth- 
ers arrived  this  year.  One  of  their  first  objects,  after 
their  arrival,  was  to  form  themselves  into  a  church 
state,  and  provide  for  the  regular  administration  of  the 
divine  word  and  ordinances.  "  Mr.  Skelton  being  as- 
sociated with  Mr.  Higginson,  in  the  work  of  the  min- 
istry, a  day  of  religious  preparation  was  observed."* 
The  church  at  Plymouth  was  invited  to  attend  the 
proposed  solemnity  of  gathering  a  church,  and  ordain? 
jng  its  officers,  f 

*  Dr.  Eliot's  Biog.  Die.  p.  252. 

4"  Dr.  Holmes'  American  Annals,  i.  25fc 


IS 

But  so  extremely  cautious  Were  these  first  planters 
of  Massachusetts  of  admitting  any  thing  that  might  in- 
fringe on  the  entire  christian  liberty  of  the  churches, 
that  they  entered  into  an  agreement,  "  that  the  church 
of  Salem  would  not  acknowledge  any  ecclesiastical  ju- 
risdiction in  the  church  at  Plymouth.  And  that  the 
authority  of  ordination  should  not  exist  in  the  cler- 
gy, as  in  the  protestant  churches,  but,  as  the  unquali- 
fied sense  of  the  reformed  churches,  should  entirely 
depend  upon  the  free  election  of  the  members  of  the 
church,  and  that  there  should  be  a  representative  of 
this  power  continually  in  the  church."*  The  right 
of  a  particular  church  to  induct  to  office  as  well,  as  to 
choose  its  own  officers,  when  occasion  requires,  is  re- 
cognised and  maintained  in  the  Cambridge  Platform, 
chap.  9th. 

They  who  laid  the  foundation  of  the  church  at  Sa- 
lem entered  into  a  solemn  covenant,  a  copy  of  which 
was  presented  to  each  member.  Extracts  from  this 
covenant  will  shew  how  little  respect  they  paid  to  the 
authority  of  human  creeds,  and  how  determined  they 
were  to  adhere  to  the  scriptures,  as  the  rule  of  their 
faith  and  practice.  They  say,  "  We  covenant  with  the 
Lord  and  with  one  another,  and  do  bind  ourselves,  in 
the  presence  of  God,  to  walk  together  in  all  his  ways, 
according  as  he  is  pleased  to  reveal  himself  unto  us  in 
his  blessed  word  of  truth."! ....  Mark,  they  did  not 
engage  to  adopt  any  human  formulary,  as  the  guide  of 
their  faith  and  duty  ;  but  to  learn  the  will  of  the  Lord 
from  his  word. 

*  Eliot's  Bios;.  Die.  p.  1.72.        +  Coll.  His.  Sop.  vi,  283. 


14 

The  Shorter  Catechism  had  not  then  made  its  ap- 
pearance. Its  birth  was  of  a  later  date.  Had  it  been 
framed  and  published,  at  that  early  period,  we  cannot 
say  how  much  deference  the  pious  founders  of  the 
church  at  Salem  might  have  paid  to  this  particular 
invention,  or  interpretation,  of  men;  but,  from 
the  second  article  in  their  covenant,  we  should  not 
suspect  that  they  would  have  adopted  it,  as  the  basis  of 
their  communion,  or  taken  it,  instead  of  the  scriptures, 
as  the  rule  of  their  faith.  In  the  second  article  of 
their  covenant  they  express  themselves  thus  :  "  Wc 
promise  to  give  ourselves  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
and  to  the  word  of  his  grace,  for  the  teaching,  ruling, 
and  sanctifying  of  us,  in  matters  of  worship  and  con- 
versation ;  resolving  to  cleave  to  him  alone  for  life 
and  glory,  and  to  oppose  all  contrary  ways,  canons,  and 
constitutions  of  men  in  his  worship."* 

If  the  example  of  these  Puritans,  who  suffered  so 
much  for  their  nonconformity  to  human  systems,  had 
been  followed  to  the  present  time,  the  holy  scriptures, 
which  heaven  has  given  as  the  rule  of  our  faith,  would 
not  so  often  have  been  dishonoured,  or  obscured,  by 
creeds  of  human  structure.  Nor  is  it  likely,  it  is  hum- 
bly conceived,  that  there  would  have  been,  at  this  day, 
so  great  a  diversity  of  sentiment  among  christians,  as 
is  supposed  to  exist.  A  common  standard,  and  that 
confessedly  given  from  heaven,  must  be  the  best  mea- 
sure of  faith  and  duty.  But  it  must  be  applied  accord- 
ing to  every  person's  own  judgment  so  far  as  it  relates 
to  himself. 

*  Coll.  His.  gbc.  vi.  283. 


15 

In  conformity  to  their  avowed  principles  *'  this 
ancient  church"  (the  first  church  at  Salem)  "  was  or- 
ganized, August  6,  1629."*  "  They  ordained  their 
ministers,  by  the  imposition  of  the  hands  of  some  of 
the  brethren  appointed  by  the  church.  Governor 
Bradford  and  others,  messengers  from  the  church  of 
Plymouth,  gave  them  the  right  hand  of  fellowship,"! 
thus  testifying  their  approbation  of  the  adopted  regula- 
tions of  that  church,  and  expressing  for  it  their  chris- 
tian affection,  charity,  and  fellowship. 

If  the  clergy  of  this  country  should  assume  the 
sole  power  of  ordination,  or  refuse  fellowship  with 
such  churches,  or  their  ministers,  as  choose  to  pre- 
serve the  right  and  freedom  of  election,  and  to  have 
men  of  their  own  choice  set  over  them  in  the  Lord, 
they  would  trespass  against  the  rule  and  example  of 
our  forefathers,  if  not  against  the  laws  of  christian  char- 
ity. 

This  year,  1629,  a  number  removed  from  Salem, 
and  laid  the  foundation  of  Charlestown. 

There  being  no  relaxation  of  the  severity  practised 
in  England  upon  the  nonconformists,  the  number  of 
emigrants  to  New- England  greatly  increased  in  1630. 
A  spirit  of  enterprise  doubtless  gave  activity  to  other 
causes  that  operated  in  producing  the  effect,  and  in  an- 
imating the  courage  and  religious  zeal  of  the  sufferers 
in  their  native  land.  Fourteen  ships  (some  say  more) 
with  about  fifteen  hundred  passengers,  arrived  in  the 
summer  of  this  year.     "  In  this  fleet  came  passengers 

*  Eliot's  Biog.  Die.  p.  253. 

*  Holmes'  Amer.  Ann.  i.  250. 


10 

governour  Winthrop,  deputy  governour  Dudley,  with 
several  other  gentlemen  of  wealth  and  quality."* 

The  Rev.  John  Warham,  the  first  ancestor  of  my 
wives  and  children  that  ever  trod  New  England  ground, 
mostly  in  the  female  line,f  with  the  Rev.  John  Maverick, 

*  Amer.  Ann.  i.  234. 

f  Mr.  Warham,  after  spending  about  five  years  as  teacher 
at  Dorchester,  removed,  with  most  of  the  church,  and  some 
people  from  Watertown  and  Newtown,  to  what  is  now  called 
Windsor,  in  Connecticut.  Here  he  was  pastor  until  his  death, 
April  1,  1670.  Mr.  Richard  Mather,  the  ancestor  of  all  the 
great  men  of  the  name  in  this  country,  having  been  twice  silenc- 
ed in  England  for  his  nonconformity,  arrived  in  New  Eng- 
land, in  1635,  and  was  ordained  at  Dorchester,  August  23, 
1636.  In  1661  his  son  Eleazer  was  ordained  the  first  pastor 
at  Northampton,  and  married  a  daughter  of  the  Rev.  John 
Warham  of  Windsor,  by  whom  he  had  an  only  daughter,  nam- 
ed Eunice.  Mr.  John  Williams,  son  of  Mr.  Samuel  Williams 
of  Roxbury,  born  Dec.  10,  1664,  was  ordained  first  pastor  of 
the  church  at  Deerfield,  in  May  1686,  and  married  the  only 
daughter  of  Mr.  Mather  of  Northampton,  and  grand  daughter 
of  Mr.  Warham.  Mr.  Warham  Williams,  w  ho  was  minister 
at  Waltham  (originally  part  of  Watertown)  was  son  of  Rev. 
John  Williams  of  Deerfield,  and  the  youngest  child  that  escap- 
ed death,  on  the  fatal  night  of  29th  cf  Feb.  1704,  when  the 
Indians  destroyed  that  town,  and  killed,  or  carried  into  captiv- 
ity, most  of  its  inhabitants.  Mr.  Warham  Williams  of  Wal- 
tham was  the  father  of  the  late  Mrs.  Abigail  Woodward,  the 
only  wife  of  my  immediate  predecessor,  Rev.  Samuel  Wood- 
ward. Abigail  and  Miranda,  the  two  oldest  daughters  of  Rev. 
Samuel  Woodward,  and  Abigail  his  wife,  have  been  succes- 
sively the  wives  of  the  writer,  and  mothers  of  his  children,  who 
are  descended,  in  a  direct  ministerial  line,  without  interrup- 
tion, from  the  Rev.  John  Warham,  and  Rev  Richard  Mather, 
both  ministers  of  Dorchester. 


17 

Mr.  Rossiter,  Mr.  Ludlow,  and  some  others,  arriving 
earlier  than  most  of  the  company,  were  put  on  shore 
at  Nantasket.  Thence  they  proceeded  to  Charles- 
town  in  a  boat.  Here  they  found  "  a  few  English  peo- 
ple, and  one  house  with  an  old  planter,  who  could 
speak  the  Indian  language."  Taking  him  into  their 
company,  consisting  of  not  more  than  ten,  "  they  as- 
cended Charles  river,  until  it  became  narrow  and 
shallow,  and  landed  their  goods  at  a  well  watered  place ; 
whence,  in  a  few  days  after,  they  removed  to  Matapan 
(some  say  by  order)  and  here  began  to  build  a  town." 
This  company  having  landed  on  the  bank  of  Charles  ri- 
ver, at  night  they  had  notice  of  300  Indians  "  hard 
by  ;"  but  the  old  planter  (who  had  accompanied  the 
adventurers  from  Charlestown)  going,  and  requesting 
them  not  to  come  near  the  English,  they  complied  with 
his  request.  The  next  morning  some  of  the  natives 
appeared  at  a  distance  ;  and  one  of  them  at  length 
holding  out  a  bass,  a  man  was  sent  with  a  biscuit, 
which  the  Indian  received  in  exchange  for  it.  After 
this  introduction,  the  natives  were  very  friendly,  and 
furnished  the  English  with  fish  ;    "  giving  a  bass  for 

The  Rev.  John  Williams  returned  from  hi9  long  and  dis= 
i.ressing  captivity,  and,  after  an  absence  of  about  three  years, 
resumed  his  ministerial  office  at  Deerfield,  in  which  he  con- 
tinued until  June  13,  1729,  when  he  suddenly  died  of  an  apo- 
plexy, having  just  entered  upon  the  41th  year  of  his  ministry, 
and  being  in  the  65th  year  of  his  age ;  not  in  the  48th  year  of 
his  ministry  and  66th  of  his  age,  as  the  Rev.  John  Taylor^ 
late  minister  of  Deerfield,  has  stated  iu  his  appendix  to  the 
Redeemed  Captive,  sixth  edition,  p.  212.* 

*  Redeemed  Captive,  and  Eliot's  Biog.  Die. 

3 


18 

a  biscuit."*  There  is  a  place  in  Watcrtovvn,  known 
by  the  name  of  Dorchester  Fields,  which  tradition  says 
is  the  spot  upon  which  these  Englishmen  first  landed. 
Soon  after  their  removal  to  Matapan,  Sir  Richard  Sal- 
tonstal,  Rev.  George  Phillips,  and  others  began  a  per- 
manent settlement  at  Watertovvn. 

"  At  the  second  court  of  assistants  held  at  Charles- 
town,  September  7,  1630,  it  was  ordered,"  among 
other  things,  "  that  Trimountain  be  called  Boston ; 
Matapan  Dorchester  ;  and  the  town  upon  Charles  riv- 
er Watertown."f  I  know  of  no  other  act  of  incor- 
poration. Situated  in  an  unexplored  wilderness,  the 
boundaries  of  Watertown  were  indefinite.  The  next 
year  a  settlement  was  begun  at  Newtown,  afterwards 
Cambridge.  In  1634  the  bounds  between  these  two 
towns  were  settled  ;|  according  to  which  Watertown 
bordered  north,  east,  and  south  on  Newtown.  The 
south-westerly  and  westerly  limits  were  undefined  un- 
til the  incorporation  of  Concord,  Dedham,  and  Sud- 
bury, upon  which  it  then  bounded.  From  Newtown, 
or  Cambridge,  on  the  north,  east,  and  south,  extend- 
ing westwardly,  Watertown  included  what  is  now  Wa- 
tertown, Waltham,  Weston,  and  a  part  of  Lincoln. 

The  exact  period  when  what  is  now  called  Wes- 
ton began  to  be  settled  is  not  known  ;  but  it  must  have 
been  pretty  early  ;  for  there  are  still  standing  houses, 
or  parts  of  houses,  which  were  erected  about  one  hun- 
dred and  forty  years  ago.  In  ecclesiastical  affairs, 
however,  this  town  was  connected  with  Watertown 

*  Amcr.  Ann.  in  a  note,  i.  235. 

t  Prince's  Chron.  p.  24S.  219.  J  State  Records. 


19 

about  sixty  eight,  and  in  civil  concerns  about  eighty 
three  years.  The  tradition  is,  that  the  inhabitants  of 
the  remote  westerly  part  of  this  town  went  to  worship 
at  the  remote  easterly  part  of  Watertown,  at  a  house 
not  far  from  the  old  burying  place.  In  this  they  man- 
ifested a  zeal  for  the  house  and  worship  of  God,  not 
often  found  among  their  descendants. 

As  the  fathers  of  this  town  were  so  long  interested 
in  them,  it  will  not  be  irrelevant  to  my  purpose  to  give 
a  sketch  of  the  ecclesiastical  hiotsry.  of  Watertown   aMi 
from  its  first  settlement,  at  least  to  the  time  of  our  sep- 
aration from  it. 

The  first  church  in  Massachusetts  was  planted  at 
Salem  ;  the  second  at  Charlestown,  including  Boston ; 
the  third  at  Dorchester ;  the  fourth  at  Roxbury  ;  the 
fifth  at  Lynn,  and  the  sixth  at  Watertown.*     Of  the 

*  In  placing  the  churches  in  this  order  I  have  followed 
Dr.  Holmes'  Amer.  Ann.  i.  262$  though  he  has  placed  the 
date  of  their  formation  one  year  too  late,  as  the  author  of 
Wonderworking  Providence  had  done  before  him.  This  last 
author,  Mather's  Magnal.  and  Co!!..  His.  Soc.  call  the  church 
at  Watertown  the  seventh,  numbering  that  at  Boston  the  fourth. 
This  must  be  an  errour  ;t  for  Winthrop's  Journal,  p.  45, 
Prince's  Chron.  p.  250,  and  Emerson's  Hist,  of  First  Church, 
probably  taken  from  the  records  of  that  church,  the  best  evi- 
dence to  be  had,  place  the  division  of  the  original  church, 
composed  of  members  in  Charlestown  and  Boston,  Oct.  14, 
1633 ;  which  was  certainly  after  the  other  six  churches  had 
been  formed. 

By  more  attentively  examining  and  comparing  authorities, 
since  the  delivery  of  the  discourse,  I  find  reason  to  doubt  the 
correctness  of  the  order  in  which  Watertown  church  is  plac- 
ed.    Without  deciding  positively  on  the  question,  I  shall  ad- 

f  [It  is  corrected  in  Hist.  Coll.  x.  314.    A.  ZT.] 


'(U  U 


20 

last  the  Rev.  George  Phillips,  the  ancestor  of  the  late 
and  present  Lieut.  Gov.  Phillips,  and  other  respecta- 

duce  a  number  of  authorities,  and  leave  the  subject  for  the  in- 
vestigation of  those  who  have  more  leisure,  and  think  it  of 
sufficient  importance  to  engage  their  attention.  According  to 
Prince's  Chron.  2i2,  243,  Gov.  Winthrop  proposed  that  July 
30,  1630,  should  be  observed  as  a  day  of  fasting  aud  prayer, 
on  account  of  the  prevailing  sickness,  aud  with  a  view  to  seek 
the  divine  direction  in  their  ecclesiastical  affairs.  The  people 
at  Salem  and  Plymouth  were  invited  to  keep  the  same  day. 
The  day  was  observed  at  Charlestown,  "  when  Gov.  Win- 
throp, Dep.  Gov.  Dudley,  Mr.  Johnson,  and  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Wilson,  first  enter  into  church  covenant,  and  lay  the  founda- 
tion of  the  churches,  both  of  Charlestown  and  afterwards  of 
Boston  " 

Of  Watertown  Mather,  Magnal.  B.  Ill,  chap.  4.  pp.  82, 
83,  says,  "  Upon  a  day  set  apart  for  solemn  fasting  and  pray- 
er, the  very  next  month  after  they  came  ashore,  they  entered 
into  this  Holy  Covenant,  July  30,  1630."  The  covenant  fol- 
lows. Mather  considered  this  transaction  as  the  formation  of 
a  church.  He  says,  "  About  forty  men,  whereof  the  first  was 
that  excellent  Knight  Sir  Richard  Saltonstal,  then  subscribed 
this  instrument,  in  order  to  their  coalescence  into  a  church 
state  ;  which  1  have  the  more  particularly  recited,  because  it 
was  one  of  the  first  ecclesiastical  transactions  of  this  nature 
managed  in  the  colony."  Allen's  Amer.  Biog.  and  His.  Die. 
476,  assigns  the  same  period  to  the  church  at  Watertown. 
According  to  these  authorities,  when  compared,  it  appears  to 
have  been  co-eval  with  that  at  Charlestown.  But  from  other 
testimonies  it  seems  to  have  had  a  prior  existence,  and  to  have 
been  second  only  to  the  church  at  Salem.  Under  date  August 
27,  1630,  Gov.  Winthrop  says,  Journal  20,  "  We  of  the  con- 
gregation kept  a  fast,  and  chose  Mr.  Wilson  our  teacher,"  &c  j 
and  he  informs  us,  that  other  officers  were  that  day  chosen, 
and  that  all  were  ordained  by  the  imposition  of  hands.  Prince,, 


21 

ble  characters  of  the  name,  was  the  first  minister,  and 
continued  in  the  office  until  July  1,  1644,  the  day  of 
his  death. 

In  1654  the  Rev.  John  Sherman,  who  "  received 
his  first  impressions  of  religion  under  the  ministry  of 
the  famous  John  Rogers,"  came  to  this  country,  and 
preached  his  first  sermon  at  Watertown,  where  he  con- 
tinued some  time  an  assistant  to  Mr.  Phillips ;   but  af- 
ter a  while  removed  to  Newhaven,  preached  OCCasion- 
217,  places  Mr.  Wilson's  ordination  on  this  day  ;  and  says,  it 
is  "  the  first  ordination  of  an  elder  in  Massachusetts  Bay." 
He  here   makes  a  distinction  between  elder  and  pastor  and 
teacher ;  for  the  two  latter  officers  had   been  ordained  at  Sa- 
lem the  preceding  year.     Amer.  Ann.  i.  256,  place  the  founda- 
tion of  Charlestown  church,  including  Boston,  at  this  period. 
Emerson's  History  of  First  Church,  p.  11,  informs  us,  that  "  a 
covenant  was  formed  and  subscribed,  August  27,  1630."     To 
reconcile  these  authorities,  may  we  not  suppose  that,  July  30, 
1630,  Gov.  Winthrop,  Dep.  Gov.  Dudley,  Mr.  Johnson,  and 
Rev.  Mr.  Wilson  agreed  upon  a  form  of  covenant,  and  took 
preparatory  steps  to  the  gathering  of  a  church,  which  was  ef- 
fected the  27  of  the  following  month  ?     Wonderworking  Prov- 
idence, speaking  of  Salem,  does  not  allow  that  a  church  can 
be  constituted  by  a  less  number  than  seven  men.     Four  only 
are   mentioned  in  Prince's   Chron.  as  having  covenanted  at 
Charlestown,  July  30, 1630.     These  might  not  consider  them- 
selves to  be  a  church,  but  design  to  prepare  the  way  to  erect 
one  in  due  form.     On  the  same  day,  July  30,  1630,  at  Water- 
town  forty  men  subscribed  a  church  covenant,  and  from  that 
time  seem  to  have  been  considered  a  distinct  church.     If  there 
be  no  mistake  in    the   historical  facts  now   adduced,  it  would 
seem  that  Watertown  church  had  a  prior  existence  to  the  one 
at  Charlestown,  and  was  second  only    to  that  at  Salem  in  the 
Massachusetts  Bav. 


22 

ally  in  the  vicinity,  and  at  length  was  appointed  a  mag- 
istrate in  that  colony. 

In  1639  the  Rev.  John  Knolles  came  to  New  Eng. 
land,  and  was  teacher  with  Mr.  Phillips  at  Water- 
town  until  1642,  when,  in  consequence  of  letters  from 
Virginia,  soliciting  ministerial  assistance,  he  and  Mr. 
Thompson  of  Braintree  went  to  that  colony.  But  on 
his  arrival  there  he  found  both  the  form  and  spirit  of 
the  English  church,  and  was  not  permitted  to  preach 
publickly  on  account  of  his  non-conformity.  He  return- 
ed, and,  I  find  by  Watertown  records,  was  associated 
with  Mr.  Sherman-  in  the  ministry  in  1648.  He  went 
back  to  England  about  1650,  and,  after  suffering 
much  persecution,  died  in  old  age. 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  Phillips,  the  people  of  Wa- 
tertown applied  to  Mr.  Sherman  to  settle  with  them  in 
the  ministry.  He  accepted  their  invitation,  though 
requested,  at  the  same  time,  to  settle  in  a  church  at 
Boston,  and  invited  by  letter  to  return  to  London,  and 
there  enter  into  the  ministry.  Mr.  Sherman  was  one 
of  the  most  distinguished  scholars  of  the  age,  and  a 
great  blessing  to  the  College.  "  He  was  chosen  fel- 
low of  the  corporation,  and  for  thirty  years  delivered 
lectures  which  most  of  the  students  attended  once  a 
fortnight,"  walking  from  Cambridge  to  Watertown  to 
enjoy  the  privilege. 

*  For  an  account  of  Mr.  Phillips,  Mr.  Sherman,  anil  Mr. 
Knolles,  or  Knowlcs,  see  Mather's  Magnal.  book  3,  chap.  3, 
p.  216,  book  3,  2d  part,  chap.  4,  p.  S3,  chap.  29,  p.  163.  El- 
lot's  Biog.  Die.  377,  378,  427,  4:28.  Allen's  Ainer.  Biog.  and 
His.  Die.  476,  512.  Holmes'  Amcr.  Ann.  i.  331.  Palmer's 
non-conformist  ii.  340.  ftc. 


23 

The  exact  period  of  Mr.  Sherman's  settlement  at 
Watertown  I  have  not  been  able  to  ascertain.  He 
was  in  office  there  in  1648,*  and  continued  in  it  until 
his  death,  August  8,  1685.  He  was  taken  sick  at 
Sudbury,  where  he  preached  his  last  sermon.f 

The  Rev.  John  Bailey  was  the  immediate  succes- 
sor of  Mr.  Sherman.  His  brother  Thomas  Bailey 
was  for  a  short  time  his  assistant.  These  brethren 
were  ejected  ministers  in  England,  and  came  to  New 
England  in  1683,  or  1684.  It  appears  from  the  rec- 
ords of  Watertown  that  they  both  resided  in  Boston. 
I  find  no  intimation  that  either  of  them  resided  at 
Watertown  previous  to  Mr.  Sherman's  death.  June 
15,  1685,  a  committee  was  chosen  to  apply  to  Mr.  Bai- 
ley (christian  name  not  mentioned  in  the  record)  to  come 
and  dwell  among  the  people  at  Watertown,  and  be  an 
assistant  to  Mr.  Sherman.  August  24,  1685,  about 
a  fortnight  after  the  decease  of  Mr.  Sherman,  the  town 
applied  to  Mr.  Bailey  the  eldest,  which  was  Mr.  John 
Bailey,  to  come  and  dwell  among  them,  and  labour  in 
the  ministry.  At  a  subsequent  meeting  the  town  vot- 
ed to  be  at  the  expense  of  transporting  Mr.  Bailey 
from  and  back  to  Boston,  until  they  could  provide  a 

*  The  records  of  Watertown  for  several  years  previous  to 
this  date  I  have  not  found.  The  fact  here  stated  is  confirm- 
ed by  the  following  extract  :  "  At  a  general  town  meeting 
the  1G  (7)  1648,  the  town  granted  to  pastor  Knowles  and  pas- 
tor Sherman,  120  pounds  for  the  year  following,  to  be  equally 
divided  between  them." 

f  Mr.  Sherman  married  twice,  and  ha.il  twenty  six  children: 
six  by  his  first,  and  twenty  by  his  second  wife,  who  lived,  his 
widow  some  vears. 


24 

house  for  him  and  his  family.  He  eontinued  to  labour 
among  them,  and  early  in  1686  manifested  his  accep- 
tance of  their  invitation  to  settle  with  them  in  the  min- 
istry. He  was  ordained,  Oct.  6,  1686.  His  brother 
Thomas  Bailey  was  invited  to  be  his  assistant ;  and 
for  this  purpose  he  was  moved  up  to  Watertown,  Nov. 
2,  1687.  He  died,  Jan.  21,  1688.  Perhaps  it  should 
stand,  if  we  begin  the  year  with  January,  1689.  In  the 
first  case  he  was  not  minister  three  months  at  Water- 
town  ;  on  the  other  supposition,  not  fifteen  months. 
It  does  not  appear  from  the  records  that  he  was  any 
more  than  assistant  to  his  elder  brother  at  Watertown.* 

*  Dr.  Eliot,  in  his  Biog.  Die.  p.  40,  must  have  fallen  in- 
to a  mistake  in  respect  to  these  two  men.  John,  and  not 
Thomas,  was  the  minister  who  statedly,  not  occasionally,  sup- 
plied at  Watertown.  The  records  of  the  town  prove  this  fact. 
The  first  church  records  now  to  be  found  were  kept  by  Mr. 
John  Bailey,  beginning  in  16S6,  which  was  56  years  after  the 
formation  of  the  church,  and  ending,  by  him,  in  1692.  In  this 
book  of  records,  the  only  one  known  in  Watertown,  he  insert- 
ed  an  Epitaph  engraven  on  the  tombstone  of  his  brother  Thom- 
as, and  the  one  engraven  on  the  tombstone  of  his  wife,  made 
by  Mr.  Moody  ;  I  suppose  Mr.  Josbua  Moody,  who,  after  be- 
ing persecuted  at  Portsmouth  by  Cranfield,  preached  at  Bos- 
ton for  a  considerable  time. 

Extracts  from  Judge  Sewall's  manuscript  journal.  "  July 
25,  1686,  Mr.  John  Bayley  preaches  his  farewell  sermon,  and 
goes  the  2Sth  to  Watertown.  Oct.  6,  Mr.  Bayley  ordained  at 
Watertown.  Mr.  Bayley  not  ordained  as  congregational  men 
are." 

On  examining  Watertown  records,   and  comparing  them 
with  other  authorities,  it  appears  that  Mr.  John  Bailey   was 
the  minister  at  Watertown  about  six  years,  and  that  his  bro- 
ther Thomas  was  his  assistant  a  few  months.   Both  had  resid 
ed,  and  occasionally,  if  not  statedly,  preached,  at  Boston. 


25 

Mr.  John  Bailey  removed  to  Boston  in  1692,  and 
in  1693  became  assistant  to  Mr.  Allen,  minister  of 
the  first  church,  and  continued  in  the  office  until  Dec. 
16,  1697,  the  day  of  his  death.  He  died  in  the  54th 
year  of  his  age. 

In  1690  application  was  made  by  the  town  of  Wa- 
tertown  to  Mr.  Henry  Gibbs  to  be  assistant  minister 
with  Mr.  Bailey.  He  accepted  the  invitation,  and 
was  induced  by  renewed  calls,  often  repeated,  to  con- 
tinue his  labours  with  them  several  years  after  Mr. 
Bailey's  removal  to  Boston. 

An  attempt  was  made  by  the  town  in  1692,  to  fix 
upon  a  place  for  a  new  meeting  house,  "  most  con- 
venient for  the  bulk  of  the  inhabitants."  The  town 
did  not  agree  upon  a  spot.  The  selectmen  then  ap- 
plied to  the  Governour  and  Council  to  appoint  a  com- 
mittee to  examine  and  report  on  the  subject.  Dec. 
27,  1692,  the  town  voted  to  submit  their  difference 
11  relating  to  settling  a  minister,  and  the  placing  of  a 
meeting  house, v  to  a  committee  to  be  appointed  by 
the  Governour  and  Council.  William  Stoughton, 
John  Phillips,  Ja.  Russell,  Samuel  Sewall,  and  Joseph 
Lynde,  men  distinguished  in  the  annals  of  New  Eng- 
land, were  appointed  to  this  service.  They  attended 
upon  it,  and  dated  theif  report  at  Boston,  May  18, 
1693.  It  does  not,  however,  appear  to  have  been  com- 
municated to  the  town  until  April  17,  1694.  The 
committee  say  in  their  report : 

"  We  do  advise  and  determine,  that  forasmuch  as 
you  have  once  and  again  called  the  Rev.  Mr.  Henry 
Gibbs  to  labour  in  the  Lord's  vineyard  at  Watertown ; 


26 

which  he  has  so  far  accepted,  as  to  spend  some  years 
with  you  ;  in  which  time  yourselves  and  others  have 
had  plentiful  experience  of  his  ability  and  real  worth, 
that  therefore  you  do  your  endeavour  that  he  may  be 
speedily  fixed  among  you,  in  the  work  and  office  of 
the  ministry." 

"  And  whereas  there  has  been  of  a  long  time,  even 
ever  since  the  days  of  your  blessed  pastor  Phillips,  an 
earnest  contending  about  the  place  of  meeting  for  the 
publick  worship  of  God,  having  heard  and  duly  weigh- 
ed the  allegations  of  both  parties,  in  your  public  meet- 
ing,  and  considering  the  remoteness  of  the  most  of 
your  inhabitants  from  the  place  where  the  meeting 
house  now  stands,  our  advice  and  determination  in  the 
matter  is,  that  within  the  space  of  four  years  next  com- 
ing there  be  a  meeting  house  erected  in  your  town  on 
a  knowl  of  ground  lying  between  the  house  of  the  wi- 
dow Sterns  and  Whitney's  hill,  to  be  the  place  of 
meeting  to  worship  God,  for  the  whole  town." 

This  report  did  not  meet  the  wisftes  of  both  par- 
ties. A  protest  against  the  place  for  the  meeting 
house,  containing  a  plea  in  behalf  of  the  farmers,  was 
signed  by  118  persons.  Mr.  Gibbs  was  still  employ- 
ed. The  proposed  meeting  house  was  erected  and 
accepted  by  the  town,  Feb.  4,  1696,  as  the  place  of 
publick  worship,  according  to  the  advice  of  the  com- 
mittee. On  this  day,  Mr.  Gibbs,  who  had  been  near- 
ly six  years  with  them,  and  was  still  the  object  of  their 
affection  and  choice,  refused  to  accede  to  the  propos- 
als of  the  town  to  officiate  in  the  new  meeting  house, 
on  account,  as  he  stated,  of  the  dissatisfaction  respect- 


27 

ing  it.  The  town  urged  him  to  comply  with  their 
request ;  but  he  persisted  in  his  refusal.  Whether 
induced  to  reject  their  overtures  by  the  state  of  irrita- 
tion in  the  parties,  or,  in  some  measure,  by  his  own 
predilection  for  the  old  house,  and  the  favour  he  had 
for  those  who  adhered  to  it,  we  cannot,  at  this  dis- 
tance of  time,  positively  determine.  Subsequent 
events  render  it  probable,  that  the  last  motive  had 
some  influence. 

Previously  to  this  time  the  following  vote  passed, 
Oct.  2, 1694,  "Our  neighbours  the  farmers  being  upon 
endeavours  to  have  a  meeting  house  among  themselves, 
the  town  consents  that  they  may  come  as  far  as  Bea- 
ver Brook*  upon  the  country  road  leading  to  Sudbu- 

*  This  brook  still  retains  the  name.  It  passes  the  great 
road  at  the  lower  part  of  Waltham  plains.  The  origin  of  the 
name  will  be  seen  in  the  following  extract  from  Gov.  Win- 
throp's  Journal,  page  32.  "  Jan.  27,  1632.  The  Governour 
and  some  company  with  him  went  up  by  Charles  River,  about 
eight  miles  above  Watertown,  and  named  the  first  brook,  on 
the  north  side  of  the  river  (being  a  fair  stream  and  coming 
from  a  pond  a  mile  from  the  river)  Beaver  Brook,  because  the 
beavers  had  shorn  down  divers  great  trees  there  and  made  di- 
vers dams  across  the  brook.  Thence  they  went  to  a  great 
rock  upon  which  stood  a  high  stone  cleft  asunder,  that  four 
men  might  go  through,  which  they  called  Adam's  chair,  be- 
cause the  youngest  of  their  company  was  Adam  Winthrop. 
Thence  they  came  to  another  brook,  greater  than  the  former, 
which  they  called  Masters'  Brook,  because  the  eldest  of  their 
company  was  one  John  Masters.  Thence  they  came  to  an- 
other high  pointed  rock,  having  a  fair  ascent  on  the  west  side, 
which  they  called  Mount  Feake,  from  one  Robert  Feake,  who 
had  married  the  Governour's  daughter  in  law.     On  the  west 


ry,  and  so  run  north  and  south  upon  a  line,  to  the  end 
there  may  be  peace  and  settlement  amongst  us."  I  find 

side  of  Mount  Feake  they  went  by  a  very  high  rock,  from 
whence  they  might  see  all  over  Whipcutt,  and  a  very  high 
hill  due  west  about  40  miles  off,  and  to  the  N.  W.  the  high 
hills  by  Merrimack  above  60  miles  off." 

Our  veneration  for  Gov.  Winthrop  and  his  companions 
leads  the  imagination  into  the  pleasing  idea,  that  every  brook 
they  named  flows  with  purer  water  than  other  streams  ;  that 
every  mountain  they  ascended  exhibits  the  bush  burning,  but 
not  consumed;  that  every  hill  upon  which  they  trod  is  a  kind 
of  holy  ground,  hallowed  by  the  presence  of  those  pious  pil- 
grims; that  every  rock  at  which  they  halted  is  a  kind  of  al- 
tar, reared  by  the  hand  of  nature  to  nature's  God.  With  these 
feelings  we  are  eager  to  trace  their  steps,  and  to  plant  our 
feet  where  theirs  were  once  placed.  But  to  ascertain  the  pre- 
cise spots  mentioned  in  the  Journal  would  require  attention, 
and  perhaps  be  attended  with  some  difficulty.  The  descrip- 
tion of  Beaver  Brook  does  not  fully  agree  with  present  ap- 
pearances. Though  one  branch  of  it  proceeds  from  a  pond  ; 
yet  this  pond  is  double  the  distance  from  the  river  stated  in 
the  Journal.  The  probability  is,  that  the  meadow  west  of 
Walt  ham  meeting  house  was  so  flowed  by  the  beavers,  as  to 
have  the  appearance,  in  the  winter  season,  of  a  natural  pond. 
Adam's  Chair,  according  to  the  Journal,  was  found  between 
the  two  brooks.  I  find  no  person  able  to  point  it  out  to  me. 
Perhaps  in  the  lapse  of  nearly  two  centuries  the  position  of  the 
cloven  parts  of  the  high  stone  may  be  so  changed,  as  not  to 
excite  notice  as  a  curiosity.  Masters'  Brook  is  now  known  by 
the  name  of  Stony  Brook.  Mount  Feake  has  lost  its  name  ; 
nor  is  it  certainly  known  where  it  stands ;  some  conjecture  in 
the  southeast  part  of  Weston.  The  very  high  rock  on  the 
west  side  of  Mount  Feake  may  be  ascertained,  with  a  consid- 
erable degree  of  certainty,  by  the  compass,  and  by  the  pros- 
pect it  gives  5   especially  if  it  were  known  where  to  look  foj 


29 

ho  evidence  that  this  offer  met  the  wishes  of  the  farm- 
ers, or  that  any  measures  had  then  been  taken  to  erect 
the  farms  into  a  distinct  precinct.  June  26, 1696,  the 
town  agreed  to  keep  a  day  of  humiliation,  to  be  fixed 
upon  by  the  Rev.  Samuel  Willard  and  Rev.  Cotton 
Mather,  who  were  requested  to  aid  in  the  religious  so- 
lemnity. August  28,  1696,  the  church  called  the 
Rev.  Samuel  Angier,  who  had  been  settled  at  Reho- 
both,  to  be  their  minister,  to  officiate  in  the  new  meet- 
ing house. 

Sept.  21,  1696,  the  town  met  to  have  a  friendly  de- 
bate on  their  affairs.  After  some  discussion  they  chose 
a  committee  of  conference,  and  adjourned  to  the  28 
of  the  same  month.  The  dispute  was  now  between 
the  east  end  and  middle  part  of  Watertown.  Being 
met  according  to  adjournment,  and  finding  that  their 
committee  had  not  agreed  upon  the  matters  in  dispute, 
the  town  concurred  with  the  church  in  the  call  of  Mr. 
Angier. 

Feb.  1,  1697,  the  farmers,  that  is,  the  inhabitants 
of  what  is  now  Weston,  were  by  vote  exempted  from 
ministerial  rates  in  the  town. 

Mr.  Angier  accepted  the  call,  and  manifested  a  rea- 
diness to  be  inducted  to  office.  Upon  this  the  church 
chose  the  Rev.  Mr.  Estabrook  of  Concord  to  "  give 
the  pastoral  charge  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Angier,  and  to  be 
the  mouth  and  moderator  of  the  church  in  the  publick 
management  of  the  whole  affair  of  perfecting  Mr.  An- 
gier's  settlement." 

Whipcutt.  The  very  high  hill  due  west  from  this  vock,  about 
40  miles  distance,  is  unquestionably  Wachnsett,  a  well  known 
•hill  in  the  north  part  of  Princeton. 


30 

May  17,  1697,  the  church  voted  to  proceed  to  a 
full  settlement  of  Mr.  Samuel  Angier  as  their  pastor, 
he  taking  the  charge  over  them  according  to  the  rules 
of  the  gospel,  without  reordination  by  imposition  of 
tvands. 

Here  is  an  ancient  example  of  considering  a  first 
ordination  valid,  after  dismission  from  a  particular 
charge.  The  right  and  authority  to  administer  spe- 
cial ordinances  remain  after  such  dismission,  if  by  it 
the  ordination  be  not  nullified. 

The  church  agreed  to  invite  ministers  to  their  as- 
sistance in  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Angier  ;  but,  if  they 
could  not  be  obtained,  that  they  would  proceed  to  the 
settlement  of  Mr.  Angier,  with  his  concurrence.* 
What  gave  rise  to  this  precautionary  measure  does 
not  appear  from  the  records.  But  the  right  of  a  church 
to  induct  into  office  ministers  of  their  own  choice, 
other  ministers  and  churches  refusing  to  assist  in  the 
solemnity,  is  here  assumed  in  conformity  to  the  Cam- 
bridge Platform.  If  ministers  and  churches  would 
admit  this  principle  of  our  fore-fathers,  we  should  not 
often  see  ecclesiastical  councils  attempting  to  over- 
rule the  choice  of  christian  societies. 

Mr.  Angier  was  inducted  into  his  office  at  Water- 
town,  May  25,  1697,  and  so  far  as  appears,  without 
any  other  ministerial  aid  than  that  of  Mr.  Estabrook. 
He  was  minister  for  the  whole  church  and  town  at 
this  time. 

"  At  a  meeting  of  the  two  precincts  July  2, 1697," 

*  Waltham  church  records,  committed  to    Rev.  Warham 
Williams  by  Rev.  John  Angier  of  Bridgewater. 


31 

(this  is  the  first  instance  that  two  precincts  occur  in 
Watertown  records,)  the  town  renewed  their  efforts  to 
settle  Mr.  Gibbs  in  connexion  with  Mr.  Angier.* 
Mr.  Angier  approved  of  the  measure  ;  but  I  find  no 
answer  to  the  call. 

Judge  Sewall  in  his  MSS.  says,  "  Oct.  6,  1697, 
a  church  was  gathered  at  Watertown  east  end,  and 
Mr.  Henry  Gibbs  was  ordained.  The  ceremony  was 
abroad,  because  the  western  party  got  possession  of 
the  meeting  house."  We  infer  that  the  Farmers, 
being  previously  exempted  from  ministerial  rates  in 
the  town,  took  no  part  in  this  opposition  and  disor- 
der. 

We  have  now  come  down  to  the  period  when  the 
Farmers  were  virtually,  though  not  in  legal  form,  a 
distinct  precinct.  But,  before  we  enter  upon  the  lo- 
cal history  of  this  section,  we  will  pursue  a  little  far- 
ther  that  of  the  other  parts  of  the  town. 

Mr.  Angier  and  Mr.  Gibbs  were  now  ministers  at 
Watertown,  the  former  at  the  new,  the  latter  at  the  old 
meeting  house.  Orders  passed  in  the  General  Court 
to  regulate  the  support  of  the  ministry  in  Watertown, 
and  to  determine  where  their  meeting  houses  should 
be  placed.  According  to  the  records  of  the  town 
these  orders  passed  in  1700,  1712,  and  1720.  It  ap- 
pears that  both  ministers  were  supported  from  the 
common  treasury,  and  that  the  eastern  and  middle 

*  Watertown  reeords,  "  Voted,  that  we  do  renew  our  call 
once  more  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Henry  Gibbs,  that  he  be  assistant 
to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Samuel  Angier  in  the  work  of  the  ministry 
in  the  new  meetinghouse  for  the  town." 


32 

parts  of  the  town  were  not,  in  any  legal  form,  divided 
into  distinct  precincts.  Attempts  were  still  made  to 
unite  both  parties  in  one  house  of  worship.  The 
town  continued  in  much  the  same  state  for  several 
years,  expressing  a  desire  to  maintain  the  worship  of 
God  according  to  the  rules  prescribed  by  the  General 
Court.  The  east  congregation  manifested  a  ready 
submission  to  these  rules. 

May  13,  1715,  the  town  voted  to  "  build  a  meet- 
ing house  for  the  accommodation  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  most  westerly  part  of  the  town."  This  was  after 
the  incorporation  of  Weston ;  and  therefore  had  res- 
pect to  what  is  now  Waltham.  Nothing,  however, 
was  effected  for  seven  years.  Sep.  6,  1715,  the  east- 
ern congregation  petition  to  be  a  separate  town.  It 
does  not  appear  that  the  prayer  of  the  petition  was 
granted.  Motions  were  made  to  fix  a  dividing  line 
between  the  two  congregations,  as  to  the  expense  of 
repairing  their  respective  meeting  houses,  and  parson- 
age houses  ;  but  not  in  respect  to  the  annual  support 
of  their  ministers.  The  line  was  proposed  by  a  com- 
mittee from  the  General  Court ;  but  does  not  appear 
to  have  been  accepted  at  that  time  by  the  town. 

Jan.  21,  (some  say  June  21)  1719,  Mr.  Angier 
died,  aged  65,  and  was  buried  in  Waltham  grave 
yard. 

Nov.  19,  1720,  the  General  Court  appointed  a 
committee  to  determine  the  dividing  line  between  the 
two  precincts,  to  consider  the  expediency  of  removing 
one  or  both  meeting  houses,  and  to  fix  upon  the  places 
most  proper  for  them.    The  committee  reported,  Dec 


3,  1720,  that  they  had  agreed  on  a  divisional  line,  and 
determined  that  within  two  years  the  new  or  west 
meeting  house  should  be  removed  to  a  rising  ground 
within  twenty  rods  of  Nathaniel  Livermore's  dwelling 
house,  or  a  new  one  erected  on  that  spot  within  the 
term ;  and  that  the  old  or  east  meeting  house  should, 
within  ten  years,  be  removed  to  school  house  hill,  or  a 
new  one  built  on  that  spot.  This  report  was  read 
and  accepted  by  the  General  Court,  Dec.  7,  1720;  at 
the  same  time  the  Court  ordered  the  west  precinct  to 
pay  their  proportion  to  the  removing  or  rebuilding  the 
east  house,  when  it  should  be  done,  as  shall  be  paid 
for  removing  or  rebuilding  their  house.  The  town 
voted  compliance  with  this  report  of  committee  and 
order  of  the  General  Court,  granted  money  to  effect 
the  removal  of  the  meeting  houses,  or  to  build  new 
ones,  and  appropriated  the  town's  proportion  of  the 
£50,000  of  bills  of  credit,  issued  by  the  government, 
to  the  same  object.  The  oe*t  precinct  applied  for  the  ft™ 
new  meeting  house,  in  order  to  remove  it  to  the  select- 
ed place,  which  was  near  the  ground  now  occupied  by 
Waltham  meeting  house  ;  but  they  did  not  obtain  it. 
They  then  purchased  of  Newton  their  old  meeting 
house,  removed  and  newly  erected  it  on  the  ground 
designated  in  the  order  of  the  General  Court. 

Having  accomplished  this  object  they  called  Mr. 
William  Welstead  to  be  their  minister,  August  14, 
1722.  He  returned  a  negative  answer  the  7th  of  the 
following  September.  Mr.  Welstead  was  afterwards 
settled  in  Boston. 

Dec.  18,  1722,  in  concurrence  with  the  church 
5 


34 

the  precinct  called  Mr.  Warham  Williams,  one  of  the 
captive  sons  of  the  Rev.  John  Williams  of  Deerfield,  to 
be  their  minister.  He  returned  a  conditional  affirma- 
tive answer,  April  17,  1723.  The  precinct  complied 
with  his  proposals,  April  30,  1723.  His  ordination 
was  June  11,  1723. 

Sept.  7, 1731,  the  church  records,  preserved  by  the 
Rev.  Samuel  Angier,  were  committed  to  the  custody 
of  Mr.  Williams  by  the  Rev.  John  Angier,  minister 
at  Bridgewater,  and  son  of  the  former,  as  being  the 
property  of  his  church.  Hence  the  inference,  that, 
though  Mr.  Samuel  Angier  was  minister  of  the  town 
of  Watertown,  the  majority  of  his  church  and  congre- 
gation, upon  the  division,  were  included  within  the 
west  precinct,  and  consisted  of  what  afterwards  be- 
came Waltham. 

The  east  precinct,  or  rather  the  town  of  Watertown, 
took  measures,  at  a  much  earlier  period  than  the  com- 
mittee of  the  General  Court  had  ordered,  to  have  a 
meeting  house  erected  on  school  house  hill.  They 
attempted  to  purchase  the  west,  or  what  was  then  call- 
ed the  middle  meeting  house  ;  but  did  not  succeed 
in  their  overtures.  They  therefore  agreed,  Jan.  14, 
1723,  to  build  a  new  meeting  house  on  school  house 
hill,  pursuant  to  the  order  of  the  General  Court,  to 
the  advice  of  a  council  of  churches,  and  to  a  former 
vote  of  the  town  ;  and  to  have  it  built  in  twelve 
months. 

Oct.  21,  1723,  Mr.  Gibbs  died,  <etat :  56,  and  just 
entered  upon  the  27th  year  of  his  ministry.  The 
Rev.  Seth  Storer  succeeded  Mr.  Gibbs,  and  was  or- 


35 

dained,  July  22,  1724.  He  died  Nov.  27,  1774,  astat: 
73,  in  the  51st  year  of  his  ministry.  The  Rev.  Daniel 
Adams  was  his  successor,  ordained  April  29,  1778, 
and  died  the  16th  of  the  following  September,  aetat : 
32.  The  Rev.  Richard  Roswell  Eliot  is  the  living 
successor  of  Mr.  Adams.  He  was  ordained  June  21, 
1780. 

After  the  incorporation  of  Weston,  which  had 
been  called  the  westerly,  more  westerly,  and  most  wes- 
terly precinct  in  Watertown,  the  middle  part  of  the 
town  acquired  the  name  of  the  west  precinct,  or  Wa- 
tertown west,  and  was  incorporated  as  a  town,  by  the 
name  of  Waltham,  Jan.  4,  1737.  Perhaps  it  should 
be,  beginning  the  year  with  January,  1738. 

The  Rev.  Warham  Williams  died,  June  22, 1751,* 
«etat :  52,  and  29th  of  his  ministry.  After  the  decease 
of  Mr.  Williams  Mr.  Eli  Forbes  had  an  invitation  to 
settle  in  the  ministry  at  Waltham  ;  but  he  did  not  ac- 
cept the  call.  He  was  afterwards  settled  in  the  north 
parish  of  Brookfield,  and  again  at  Cape- Ann,  in  the 
town  of  Gloucester. 

The  late  venerable  Dr.  Jacob  Cushing  was  the 
successor  of  Mr.  Williams  ;  ordained  Nov.  22, 1752, 
and  died  Wednesday,  Jan.  18,  1809,  in  the  79th  year 
of  his  age,  and  57th  of  his  ministry.  He  preached  at 
Weston  the  sabbath  preceding  his  death,  and,  as  ma- 

*  In  a  note  on  a  sermon  preached  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Nathan 
Strong,  at  the  funeral  of  Mrs.  Sarah  Williams,  wife  of  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Eliphalet  Williams  of  East  Hartford,  and  daughter 
of  Rev.  Warham  Williams,  his  death  is  placed  in  June  ±752. 
This  is  a  mistake.  It  happened  the  day,  month,  and  year 
above  related. 


36 

ny  observed,  with  the  vigour  of  a  young  man.  Mr. 
Woodward,  minister  of  Weston,  a  classmate  with  Dr. 
Cushing,  and  a  brother  by  marriage,  preached  his  last 
sermon  at  Waltham.  The  Rev.  Samuel  Ripley  suc- 
ceeded Dr.  Cushing,  and  was  ordained,  Nov.  22, 
1809. 

During  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Angier  and  Mr.  Gibbs 
in  Watertown,  this  westerly  part  was  first  made  a  pre- 
cinct, and  afterwards  a  separate  town  by  the  name 
which  it  still  retains.  In  speaking  of  the  transactions 
of  the  people  of  this  place  I  shall  give  the  dates  as  they 
would  stand  if  January  had  then  been  reckoned  the 
first  month  in  the  year. 

The  inhabitants  of  this  section  of  Watertown  met, 
Jan.  9,  1695,  and  agreed  to  build  a  meeting  house 
thirty  feet  square,  and  to  place  it  on  land  of  Nathaniel 
Cooledge  senior,  by  the  side  of  the  road,  at  the  head 
of  Parkhurst's  meadow.  This  spot  was  a  little  in 
front  of  the  present  house,  the  road  then  passing  more 
south  than  at  present.  In  1696  agents  were  chosen  to 
contract  with  workmen  to  build  the  house,  which  was 
called  The  Farmers'  Meeting  House,  a  very  appropri* 
ate,  significant,  and  honourable  appellation. 

"  Sometime  in  August  1695"  money  was  con- 
tributed by  sundry  persons  for  the  purpose  of  prefer- 
ring a  petition  to  the  General  Court,  praying  for  leave, 
as  it  is  expressed  in  the  records,  "  to  set  up  the  pub- 
lick  worship  of  God  amongst  the  inhabitants  of  the 
west  end  of  said  town,"  meaning  Watertown.  It 
does  not  appear  when  the  petition  was  preferred  to  the 
General  Court ;  but  the  prayer  of  it  was  granted  at 


37 

the  May  session,  1698.  Some  doubts  arising  about 
the  eastern  boundary  of  the  precinct,  the  General 
Court,  at  their  May  session,  1699,  passed  an  explana- 
tory order  in  these  words,  "  The  bounds  of  said  pre- 
cinct shall  extend  from  Charles  river  to  Stony  Brook 
Bridge,  and  from  said  bridge  up  the  brook  northerly 
to  Robert  Harrington's  farm,  the  brook  to  be  the 
boundary,  including  the  said  farm,  and  comprehend- 
ing all  the  farms,  and  farm  lands  to  the  line  of  Cam- 
bridge and  Concord ;  and  from  thence  all  Watertown 
lands  totheirutmost  southward  and  westward  bounds." 
The  same  bounds,  in  the  same  words,  are  defined  in 
the  act  of  incorporation  of  the  town. 

Meetings  of  the  precinct  were  holden,  Nov.  8, 
and  Nov.  15,  1698,  officers  chosen,  and  further  provi- 
sion made  to  complete  the  meeting  house.  August 
25,  Sept.  15,  and  Nov.  16,  1699,  measures  were  tak-^ 
en  to  finish  the  meeting  house,  and  to  procure  a  minis- 
ter. Feb.  14, 1700,  the  precinct  voted  to  have  a  min- 
ister to  preach  in  the  meeting  house,  to  begin  the  second 
sabbath  of  the  ensuing  March,  and  thence  forward  to 
continue  to  preach  in  said  house.  Thus  it  appears 
that  the  small  house,  begun  in  1695,  was  not  so  far 
completed,  as  to  be  occupied  till  March  1700.  It  was 
begun  by  subscription,  and  afterwards  carried  on  at  the 
expense  of  the  precinct. 

March  5,  1700,  money  was  granted  to  support 
preaching.  Grants  continued  to  be  made,  at  succes- 
sive periods,  for  the  same  purpose.  A  committee  was 
chosen,  Sept.  13,  1700,  to  apply  for  advice,  as  to  the 
choice  of  a  minister,  to  the  Rev.  President  Mather, 


38 

Rev.  Mr.  Angier,  Rev.  Mr.  Brattle,  and  Rev.  Mr, 
Gibbs,  and  to  make  report.  A  meeting  was  held,  Oct. 
8, 1700,  for  the  choice  of  a  minister  to  preach  in  order 
for  settlement.  Mr.  Thomas  Symmes  was  chosen. 
We  find  nothing  more  about  Mr.  Symmes  in  the  pre- 
cinct records.  He  was  afterwards  settled  at  Boxford, 
and  from  that  place  removed  to  Bradford,  where  his 
father  had  been  minister.* 

March  10,  1701,  the  committee  of  the  precinct 
was  directed  to  provide  a  man  to  preach  with  them. 
Sept.  12,  1701,  a  similar  order  passed.      Dec.   19, 

1701,  voted  that  Mr.  Mors  should  continue  in  order 
for  a  settlement.  July  6,  1702,  the  precinct  gave  Mr. 
Joseph  Mors  a  call  to  settle  with  them  in  the  ministry, 
thirty  for  and  twelve  against  him.  August  28, 1702, 
agreed  to  keep  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer.     Sept.  28, 

1702,  they  renewed  the  call  of  Mr.  Mors,  granted  an 
annual  salary,  and  engaged,  as  an  encouragement  to 
settle,  to  build  him  a  house  forty  by   twenty  feet. 

*  The  acknowledgments  of  the  writer  are  due  to  William 
Winthrop  Esquire  of  Cambridge,  a  descendant  from  Gov.  Win- 
throp,  for  information  respecting  Mr.  Symmes,  and  most  of 
the  other  ministers  inentioued  in  this  discourse,  and  for  other 
aid  in  collecting  facts.  By  laborious  research  Mr.  Winthrop 
has  added  to  the  catalogue  of  Harvard  College,  in  manuscript, 
a  biographical  or  historical  account  of  most  of  her  sons  ;  the 
publication  of  which  with  the  Catalogue  would  afford  gratifi- 
cation to  the  curious,  and  aid  the  collection  of  a  general  his- 
tory of  the  university.  He  will  be  pleased  to  accept  the 
thanks  of  the  writer  for  his  labours,  and  for  the  friendly  com- 
munication of  the  result  of  his  inquiries  into  subjects,  which 
would  soon  have  been  carried  beyond  the  knowledge  of  man 
by  the  ever-flowing  current  of  time. 


39 

Nov.  23, 1702,  Mr.  Mors  gave  an  affirmative  answer 
to  the  call,  with  some  conditions  annexed.  Jan.  8, 
1703,  the  precinct  accepted  his  answer,  and  voted  to 
begin  the  house  they  had  promised  to  build  for  him. 
Sept.  22,  1703,  voted  to  raise  the  house  on  the  4th  of 
the  following  October.  This  house  is  now  occupied 
by  deacon  Samuel  Fiske.  The  next  year  after  it  was 
raised  the  house  was  put  into  Mr.  Mors's  possession, 
and  a  grant  of  money  made  to  him  to  enable  him  to  fin- 
ish it.  But  this  year,  1704,  difficulties  arose  respect- 
ing Mr.  Mors's  settlement  in  the  ministry  in  this 
place.  On  what  ground  the  uneasiness  rested  I  have 
not  been  able  to  ascertain  ;  but  it  continued  without 
any  prospect  of  accommodation.  In  the  two  succeed- 
ing years  advice  was  asked  of  what  were  then  called 
the  upper  and  lower  associations  of  ministers,  of  indi- 
vidual clergymen,  and  of  one  or  more  councils  of 
churches.  After  much  delay,  and  not  less  perplexi- 
ty, it  was  determined  that  the  precinct  should  purchase 
Mr.  Mors's  "  housing  and  lands,"  and  indemnify  him 
against  pecuniary  loss,  and  that  he  should  leave  them 
in  the  spring  of  1706.  A  committee  was  appointed 
to  treat  with  him  on  the  subject,  and  to  purchase  his 
house  and  land  for  the  use  of  the  ministry,  or  minister. 
An  agreement  was  not  soon  effected.  But  the  next 
year,  Dec.  31,  1707,  Mr.  Mors  conveyed  the  premis- 
es to  the  precinct's  committee.  Mr.  Mors  styles 
himself  in  the  deed,*  "  Heretofore  preacher  of  the  gos- 

*  Entered  at  the  registry  of  deeds,  book  14>,  page  646,  &c 
The  committee,  to  whom  the  conveyance  was  made,  consisted 
of  Mr.  Thomas  Willson,  Capt.  Josiah  Jones.   Capt.  Francis 


40 

pel  in  the  west  precinct  of  Watertown."  He  was  af- 
terwards settled  at  Stoughton,  now  Canton. 

In  the  controversy  between  the  precinct  and  Mr. 
Mors,  whatever  might  be  the  grounds  of  it,  there  was, 
no  doubt,  considerable  irritation.  He  and  his  oppos- 
ers  were  thought  by  council  to  be  in  fault.  This  sel- 
dom fails  to  be  the  case  among  contending  parties. 
Mr.  Mors  had  stedfast  friends,  who  were  zealous  for 
his  settlement ;  but  they  agreed  to  relinquish  this  ob- 
ject, and  unite  in  the  choice  of  another  man,  if  the  pre- 
cinct would  join  in  calling  in  mediators  to  attempt  a 
reconciliation  between  Mr.  Mors  and  his  opponents. 
This  was  done  without  effect. 

In  1706  the  precinct  was  presented  at  the  court  of 
sessions  on  account  of  their  not  having  a  settled  minis- 
ter. A  committee  was  appointed  to  answer  to  the 
presentment,  at  Charlestown,  Sept.  25,  1706. 

Feb.  11,  1707,  the  precinct  chose  Mr.  Nathaniel 
Gookin  to  be  their  minister.  He  negatived  their  call, 
and  was  afterwards  settled  at  Hampton,  New  Hamp- 
shire. 

The  presentment  still  lay  before  the  court  of  ses- 
sions. A  committee  was  again  chosen  to  make  re- 
turn to  the  court  at  Charlestown,  to  be  holden,  April 
23,  1707.  May  9,  1707,  the  precinct  met  to  hear  the 
order  of  the  court ;  and  again,  June  9,  1707,  to  agree 
upon  a  return  to  the  court  at  Concord.  A  petition 
was  prepared,  to  be  presented  to  the  court,  assigning 

Fullarm,  and  Lieut.  John  Brewer.  The  premises  were  assign- 
ed to  the  Rev.  William  Williams,  April  28.  1714,  recorded 
in  book  22,  page  211 


41 

reasons  for  not  having  a  minister  settled.  The  petition- 
ers say,  "  O.ice  more  we  humbly  pray,  that  the  Hon- 
ourable Court  would  not  put  Mr.  Joseph  Mors  into 
the  work  of  the  ministry  in  our  precinct,"  &c.  From 
this  it  appears,  that  the  people  in  this  place  were  ap- 
prehensive that  Mr.  Mors  might  be  fixed  here  by  or- 
der of  court,  and  not  by  their  own  election. 

July  16,  1707,  they  chose  Mr.  Tiicmas  Tufts  to 
be  their  minister.  He  negatived  the  call,  Sep.  4, 
1 707,  and,  falling  into  an  ill  state  of  health,  was  never 
settled  in  the  ministry. 

As  late  as  Sep.  1707,  the  difficulty  with  Mr. 
Mors,  in  respect  to  his  interest  in  the  parish,  was  not 
adjusted.  If  we  might  be  allowed  to  draw  an  infer- 
ence, it  would  be,  that  he  was  not  very  ready  to  ac- 
commodate himself  to  the  views  either  of  this  people, 
or  of  their  advisers.  Faults  there  were,  undoubtedly, 
on  both  sides  ;  but  as  much  condescension  appears 
on  the  part  of  the  precinct,  as  is  to  be  found  in  almost 
any  similar  case.  I  cannot  but  venerate  the  fathers  of 
this  town  when  I  trace  the  records  of  their  proceed* 
ings. 

Jan.  14,  1708,  they  agreed  to  keep  a  day  of  fasting 
and  prayer,  and  choose  a  committee  to  state  the  rea- 
sons and  grounds  for  the  observance  of  a  day  for  this 
purpose  to  those  ministers  who  should  be  invited  to 
assist  in  the  solemnity. 

Feb.  4,  1708,  the  people  gave  Mr.  William  Wil- 
liams* a  call  to  settle  in  the   ministry  in  this  place. 

*  Mr.  Williams  was  son  of  the  Rev.  William  Williams  of 
Hatfield,  grand  son  of  Mr.  Isaac  Williams  of  Box  bury,  and 


42 

Some  time  being  taken  for  consideration,  and  to  adjust 
certain  preliminaries,  Mr.  Williams  manifested  his 
acceptance  of  the  call,  August  23,  1709.  A  church 
was  gathered  in  this  place,  and  Mr.  Williams  ordain- 
ed, Nov.  2,  1709,  about  eleven  years  and  an  half  after 
the  Farms  had  become  a  distinct  precinct.  The 
church  consisted,  at  first,  of  eighteen  male  members, 
nine  from  other  churches,  and  nine  who  had  not  been 
communicants.*  Jan.  4,  1710,  two  deacons  were 
chosen,  who  accepted  the  trust. 

March  30,  1710,  money  was  granted  to  finish  the 
meeting  house.  By  this  we  learn  that  the  small  meet- 
ing house,  only  30  feet  square,  begun  in  1695,  was 
not  finished  in  fifteen  years.  This  was  truly  a  day  of 
small  things. 

March  1718,  a  motion  was  brought  forward  in 
town  meeting  to  build  a  new  meeting  house.  The 
subject  was  deferred.  Oct.  23,  1721,  the  town  voted 
to  build  a  new  meeting  house,  and  to  appropriate  their 
proportion  of  the  bills  of  credit  issued  by  the  General 
Court  to  this  object.  Thus  it  appears  that  the  build- 
great  grand  son  of  Mr.  Robert  Williams,  who  came  to  this 
country  from  Norwich,  in  England.  Mr.  Williams  of  Hat- 
field aud  Mr.  Williams  of  Deerfield  were  cousins,  classmates, 
and  neighbouring  ministers  in  the  frontier  settlements. 

*  Nathaniel  Cooledge  and  Thomas  Flegg  from  Mr.  Gibbs's 
church;  Joseph  Lovell  and  John  Parkhurst  from  Mr.  An- 
gler's; John  Livermore,  Francis  Fullam,  Abel  Allen,  Ebene- 
zer  Allen,  and  Francis  Pierce,  from  the  church  in  Sudbury. 
The  other  nine  were  Josiah  Jones,  Thomas  Weight,  Joseph 
Allen,  Josiah  Jones  jun.  Joseph  Livermore,  Joseph  Allen  jun 
Samuel  Seavcrns,  Joseph  Woolson,  and  George  Robinson. 


43 

ing  of  three  meeting  houses,  within  the  limits  of  the 
original  town  of  Watertown,  was  aided  by  the  pub- 
lick  bills  of  credit,  issued,  I  suppose,  on  the  principles 
of  what  was  called  the  land  bank. 

Weston  progressed  in  the  work,  and  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1722  raised  the  house  in  which  we  are  now  as- 
sembled, making  it  ninety  years  old  the  last  season. 
It  underwent  thorough  repairs  in  1800,  when  the  stee- 
ple and  two  porches  were  erected,  and  the  bell  pro- 
cured. 

Mr.  Williams  continued  in  the  ministry  until  Oct. 
24,  1750,  being  forty  one  years  wanting  nine  days, 
and  was  then  dismissed  by  a  mutual  council.  He 
was  esteemed  a  scholar,  and  good  preacher.  After  his 
dismission,  contrary  to  the  too  frequent  practice  of 
clergymen  that  are  removed  from  office,  he  was  a 
peaceable  parishioner,  and  treated  his  successor  with 
kindness  and  respect. 

The  Rev.  Samuel  Woodward  succeeded  Mr.  Wil- 
liams in  the  ministry,  and  was  ordained,  Sept.  25, 
1751,  eleven  months  and  one  day  after  the  dismission 
of  his  predecessor.  Mr.  Woodward  died,  Oct.  5, 
1782.  setat:  56.  Allowing  eleven  days  for  the  altera- 
tion of  the  style  between  his  ordination  and  death, 
one  day  was  wanting  to  complete  the  thirty  first  year 
of  his  ministry.  He  died  greatly  beloved  and  lament- 
ed by  the  people  of  his  charge,  by  his  brethren  in  office, 
and  by  an  extensive  circle  of  acquaintance.  His 
memory  is  yet  dear  to  many  of  this  society.  He  was 
a  serious,  sensible,  practical  preacher,  rarely  entering 
upon  controversial  points,  but  always  striving  to  mend 


44 

the  heart  and  life.  Extremes  he  carefully  avoided, 
while  he  pre.ichcd  Christ,  and  him  crucified,  and  adopt- 
ed the  evangelical  style  in  his  discourses.  He  was 
cheerful  and  facetious  without  lessening  his  dignity  as 
a  minister,  or  christian.  He  had  uncommon  social 
talents.  No  man  could  more  happily  blend  the  cheer- 
ful with  the  grave  in  conversation,  and  yet  preserve 
their  exact  bounds.  His  company  was  sought  and  ad- 
mired by  all  classes,  old  and  young,  the  serious  and 
gay  ;  and  he  discovered  a  disposition  to  please  and 
improve  all  ;  and  with  a  peculiar  air  of  pleasantry,  he 
could  give  perfect  ease  and  satisfaction  to  the  most 
mixed  circles  ;  while  at  the  same  time,  with  a  no  less 
singular  air  of  gravity  he  could  set  bounds  to  any  pro- 
pensity to  overleap  the  rules  of  decorum,  or  of  chris- 
tian sobriety.  He  delighted  to  see  all  happy,  and,  so 
far  as  it  depended  on  him,  to  make  them  so  :  but,  in 
his  most  pleasant  and  free  intercourse  with  his  people 
and  friends,  he  took  care  not  to  lose  sight  of  the  great 
object  of  his  ministry,  the  moral  improvement  of  men, 
their  ultimate  happiness,  and  the  glory  of  his  and  their 
God.  Mr.  Woodward  was  a  descendant  of  an  ancient 
and  respectable  family  in  Newton.* 

The  speaker  was  the  immediate  successor  of  Mr. 
Woodward,  and  was  ordained,  Nov.  5,  1783,  just 
thirteen  months  after  the  decease  of  his  predecessor. -\ 

*  He  was  son  of  Mr.  Ebcnezer  Woodward,  and  grandson 
of  Mr.  John  Woodward,  an  early  settler  in  Newton.  The  in- 
heritance is  in  possession  of  Mr.  Elijah  Woodward,  one  of  the 
fifth  generation  inclusive. 

t  The  author  of  the  discourse  takes  the  liberty  to  add  a 


45 

Having  obtained  help  of  God,  he  yet  continues. 
Though  he  has  experienced  some  indisposition,  he  has 
not  been  kept  from  the  house  of  worship  but  one  sab- 
bath, either  by  sickness  or  inclemency  of  weather,  for 
thirty  years  :  Nor  has  he  left  the  pulpit  without  a  sup- 
ply, on  his  own  private  business,  but  two  sabbaths 
within  the  term. 

On  comparing  dates  it  will  be  perceived,  that  this 
town  has  been  without  a  settled  minister  only  two  years 
and  one  day  for  one  hundred  and  three  years  the  thir- 

short  account  of  his  own  ancestors.  Mr.  Francis  Kendal,  who 
settled  in  Woburn,  was  the  first  in  this  country,  and,  so  far  as 
he  has  been  able  to  ascertain,  the  ancestor  of  all  that  bear  the 
name  of  Kendal  in  New  England.  The  time  of  his  arrival  in 
this  country  is  not  known.  He  married  in  Woburn  in  1644. 
His  grandson  Thomas,  whose  father's  name  was  Thomas,  mar- 
ried Sarah,  the  eldest  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Cheever, 
of  Chelsea,  and  grand  daughter  of  Mr.  Ezekiel  Cheever,  who 
kept  a  grammar  school  more  than  70  years,  by  whom  he  had 
fourteen  children.  The  writer,  born  at  Sherburne  July  11, 
1753,  is  son  of  Elisha,  their  twelfth  child,  now  living,  Feb.  24, 
1813,  in  the  89th  of  his  age. 

Dr.  Eliot,  in  his  Biog.  Die.  137,  138,  has  noticed  the  lon- 
gevity of  Mr.  Ezekiel  Cheever,  and  ©f  some  of  his  descendants. 
The  venerable  school-master  died  setat:  94,  his  son  Samuel, 
minister  at  Marblehead,  85,  his  son  Thomas,  minister  at  Chel- 
sea, 93,  his  daughter,  who  married  Mr.  Benjamin  Burt,  88. 
To  this  account  we  add,  his  daughter,  who  married  Mr.  Thom- 
as Kendal,  died  setat:  78.  Her  husband  lived  to  94^.  Their 
daughter  Sarah  to  93,  their  son  Benjamin  to  96  wanting  four 
days.  Their  son  Elisha,  as  above  stated,  is  in  the  89th  year 
of  his  age. 

The  inheritance  of  Francis  Kendal  is  yel,  in  part  at  least, 
possessed  by  his  descendants  that  bear  the  name. 


46 

teenth  of  last  November.  The  three  ministers  ordain- 
ed in  this  place  have  filled  the  office  more  than  a  cen- 
tury. 

Including  the  first  eighteen,  694  have  been  admit- 
ted to  church  fellowship  ;  425  under  Mr.  Williams's 
ministry  ;  163  under  Mr.  Woodward's ;  106  under 
mine. 

There  have  been  2569  baptisms ;  1082  in  Mr. 
Williams's  ministry,  18  between  his  dismission  and 
Mr.  Woodward's  ordination,  922  in  Mr.  Woodward's 
ministry,  15  between  his  decease  and  my  induction  to 
office,  and  532  since. 

Twelve  deacons  have  been  chosen,  and  have  offi- 
ciated in  this  church  ;  of  whom  the  four  last  chosen 
still  live  and  sustain  the  office.* 

There  is  no  correct  source  from  which  I  can  ascer- 
tain the  number  of  births  and  deaths  within  the  past 
century.  The  population  of  the  town  has  varied  but 
little  since  my  acquaintance  with  it.  According  to 
the  census,  taken  at  three  different  periods,  it  stands 
at  a  little  more  than  a  thousand. 

*  Capt.  Josiah  Jones  and  John  Parkhurst,  chosen  Jan.  4.9 
1710.  Benjamin  Brown,  April  20,  1715.  Ensign  John  War- 
ren in  178a.  Of  the  choice  of  the  next  two,  viz.  Nathaniel 
Allen  and  Ahijah  Upham,  I  can  find  no  reeord  ;  but  they 
both  officiated  within  the  memory  of  a  number  of  the  present 
inhabitants.  Sept.  14,  1767,  Thomas  Upham  and  Thomas 
Russell  were  chosen.  Dec.  18,1780,  Samuel  Fiskeand  Isaac 
Hobbs  were  elected.  Jan.  7, 1808,  Nathan  Warren  and  Thom- 
as Biglow  were  appointed. 

Since  my  ordination  we  have  buried  but  one  deacon,  viz. 
deacon  Thomas  Russell,  who  sustained  the  office  almost  twen- 
ty five  years. 


47 

Since  my  ordination  I  have  solemnized  214  mar- 
riages, besides  a  few  in  neighbouring  towns  which  have 
been  destitute  of  a  minister. 

The  bill  of  mortality  I  shall  exhibit  is  for  thirty 
years,  beginning  Jan.  1,  1783,  and  ending  Jan.  1,  1813. 
I  have  no  document  to  enable  me  to  extend  it  farther 
back.  There  stand  on  my  records  416  deaths;  from 
which  number  deduct  20  that  do  not  properly  come 
into  the  account,  being  only  visitors,  or  such  as  had 
come  into  the  town  in  the  last  stages  of  disease,  hop- 
ing to  find  relief  from  the  salubrity  of  the  air.  After 
this  deduction  the  number  is  395,  making  the  annual 
average  number  thirteen  and  one  fifth,  or  sixty  six  in 
five  years.  Of  the  396,  ninety  arrived  at  the  70th  year 
of  their  age,  and  upwards,  making  more  than  one  in 
four  and  an  half  that  arrived  to  what  is  called  the  com- 
mon age  of  man.  Out  of  the  ninety,  who  lived  to 
this  age,  fifty  two  attained  to  their  eightieth  year,  and 
upwards,  giving  more  than  one  in  eight  that  arrived  to 
four  score  years.  Of  the  fifty  two  that  arrived  to  this 
age,  twenty  seven  lived  to  eighty  five,  and  upwards, 
giving  one  in  fourteen  and  two  thirds  that  attained  to 
these  advanced  years.  Twelve  lived  to  ninety,  and  up- 
wards, making  one  in  thirty  three  of  this  very  great 
age.  Three  lived  to  ninety  five  and  upwards,  giving 
one  in  one  hundred  and  thirty  two  that  continued  to  this 
advanced  period  ;  and  one  lived  to  be  one  hundred  and 
two  years  old,  wanting  about  six  weeks.* 

*  This  was  Mrs.  Mercy  Hastings,  relict  of  Mr.  John  Has- 
tings, who  died  at  the  age  of  88.  She  was  a  native  of  New- 
ton.    Her  maideu  name  was  Mercv  Ward.     She  retained  her 


48 

The  bill  of  mortality  now  given,  which  includes  a 
period  of  thirty  years,  shews  Weston  to  be  as  healthy 
a  spot,  as  almost  any  in  the  known  world.  A  greater 
proportion  have  attained  to  70  years,  than  we  meet 
with  in  other  accounts.  Perhaps  no  place  in  New  En- 
gland could  present  fairer  proof  of  the  salubrity  of  its 
air  and  situation. 

But  the  fathers,  where  are  they  ?  and  the  prophets \ 
do  they  live  forever  ?  The  hand  of  time  has  removed 
all  who  were  on  the  stage  at  the  commencement  of  the 
century,  whose  close  we  this  day  witness  ;  and  it  is 
not  probable  that  any  now  born  will  see  the  end  of  the 
one  on  which  v,  e  are  entering. 

According  to  the  ratio  for  the  last  thirty  years,  al- 
lowing the  number  of  inhabitants  to  have  been  the 
same,  which,  however,  is  not  the  fact,  the  number  of 
deaths  would  amount  to  1320,  nearly  a  third  more  than 
the  whole  population.  With  but  very  few  exceptions, 
a  century  of  years  carries  with  it  all  the  inhabitants  it 
found  on  the  earth  at  its  commencement,  thus  evincing 
the  mortality  of  man  !  But,  as  one  generation  passeth 
away  another  cometh ;  and,  in  rapid  succession,  the 
sons  take  the  place  of  their  fathers. 

The  period  we  have  been  reviewing,  and  of  which 
we  have  given  only  a  few  historical  sketches,  has  been 

faculties  till  she  was  about  one  hundred  years  old.  A  little 
before  she  was  99  years  old  the  writer  met  her  from  home,  at 
the  wedding  of  a  grand  daughter,  where  she  spent  the  evening 
and  gratified,  at  least  a  part  of  the  company,  by  correct  an- 
swers to  inquiries  relating  to  the  days  of  old.  She  was  a  plea- 
sant guest ;  not  loquacious,  but  intelligent 


49 

fruitful  in  great  events,  and  brought  upon  the  stage 
many  illustrious  characters.  Distressing  calamities, 
and  mighty  revolutions  have  fallen  within  its  compass. 
America  has  risen  to  the  rank  of  an  independent  na- 
tion, and  at  a  former  period  enjoyed  unexampled  pros- 
perity. But  we  have  not  time  to  trace  events,  in  which 
our  own  country  has  had  a  deep  interest,  or  borne  a 
conspicuous  part.  In  a  retrospect  we  see  that  the 
Lord  has  done  great  things  for  us,  whereof  we  have 
reason  to  be  glad.  He  has  protected  our  fathers,  and 
blessed  their  offspring. 

Since  our  ancestors  landed  on  these  shores,  the  wil- 
derness has  blossomed  as  the  rose,  and  the  desert  be- 
come a  fruitful  field.  The  haunts  of  wild  beasts,  or  of 
savage  tribes,  have  become  populous  cities,  villages, 
or  towns.  Where  nothing  met  the  eye  but  nature  in 
her  rudest  dress,  where  nothing  saluted  the  ear  but  the 
yell  of  savages,  and  the  howlings  of  beasts  of  prey  ; 
there  spacious  temples  are  erected  to  the  living  God, 
united  vows  offered  to  him,  and  the  blessings  of  civiliz- 
ed life  enjoyed. 

The  religious  institutions  of  our  fathers,  and  their 
conscientious  observance  of  them,  have  been  New  En- 
gland's glory.  I  am  well  aware,  that  those  institutions 
have  been  represented,  perhaps  really  thought,  to  be 
unfavourable  to  the  enlarged  views,  and  to  the  inde- 
pendent feelings,  which  are  desirable  in  a  race  of  free- 
men. But  nothing  can  be  more  incorrect  than  this 
idea.  Our  religious  and  school  institutions  have  from 
the  beginning  had  an  intimate  connexion  ;  and  their 
joint  influence  has  given  an  elevation  of  character  to 
7 


50 

the  several  classes  of  our  citizens,  which  no  other  sec- 
tion in  the  union  can  justly  claim.  In  other  portions 
of  our  country  the  rich  bestow  upon  their  children  a 
good  education  ;  but  the  poor  have  not,  as  we  have, 
the  means/of  instruction  ;  and  they  that  have  advanta- 
ges, are  nurtured  in  such  notions  of  their  superiority, 
that  they  can  scarcely  enter  into  the  feelings  of  medioc- 
rity, and  allow  to  their  more  destitute  neighbours 
equal  privileges  ;  much  less  can  they  be  persuaded  to 
restrain  the  lash  from  those  of  a  more  sable  complex- 
ion. 

Although  there  has  not  always  been  sufficient  care, 
in  years  past,  to  provide  able  instructors  ;  yet  our 
schools  in  general  have  been  so  well  taught,  that  the 
youth  in  this  place  have  been  as  fully  prepared  for  ac- 
tive service  and  usefulness,  as  in  almost  any  town  of 
equal  ability  in  the  commonwealth.  With  high  satis- 
faction we  make  this  remark,  while  we  express  an 
earnest  desire  that  there  may  be  an  increasing  atten- 
tion to  the  education  of  the  rising  generation.  They 
are  the  hope  of  our  country.  May  the  means  of 
knowledge  be  multiplied.  The  culture  of  young 
minds,  especially  in  religious  and  virtuous  sentiments 
and  habits,  is  of  vast  importance,  not  only  to  individ- 
uals, but  to  the  community. 

Twenty  young  men  who  were  natives  of  this  town, 
or  whose  parents  lived  in  the  town  at  the  time  of  their 
receiving  collegiate  honours,  have  had  a  publick  edu- 
cation ;  nineteen  at  Cambridge,  and  one  at  Provi- 
dence.* 

*  Their  names,  and  the  years  in  which  they  took  their 


51 

In  considering  the  days  of  old,  the  years  of  ancient 
times,  we  ought  to  notice  the  errours  of  our  fathers, 
not  with  a  view  to  reproach  their  characters,  but  to 
avoid  their  mistakes  and  failings ;  and  we  should  mark 
their  virtues  and  pious  examples  with  a  determination 
to  imitate  their  praise  worthy  deeds.  They  were  a 
generation  of  men  who,  after  every  reasonable  allow- 
ance for  the  influence  the  spirit  of  the  age  had  upon 
their  minds,  merit  our  veneration,  and  from  whom 
we  may  receive  instruction  at  this  distant  period.  It 
will  be  our  fault  if  we  do  not  learn  wisdom  from 
them. 

When  they  attempted  to  procure  a  minister  of  the 
gospel,  they  sought  direction  from  heaven  by  fasting 
and  prayer,  and  applied  for  advice  to  the  most  judi- 
cious clergymen  of  their  day.  These  measures  indi- 
cate prudence  and  discretion  as  well,  as  a  spirit  of  pi- 
ety ;  they  were  fit  and  proper,  and  will  merit  the  at- 
tention of  the  religious  society  in  this  place  at  a  future  ^ 
and  not  very  far  distant  period.  J§ 

The  time  is  fast  approaching,  when  the  lips  of  the 
present  speaker  will  be  closed,  when  his  tongue  will>^ 
be  silenced  forever.     Should  he  live  to  the  common^. 

first  degree  are  as  follows,  viz.  William  Williams,  1729,  JVa-  ^ 
than  Fiske,  1734,  Daniel  Jones,  Phineas  Whitney,  and  DanieL 
Stimpson,  1759,  Ephraim  Woolson,  1760,  Samuel  Savage,"^ 
1766,  Isaac  Biglow,  1769,  Stephen  Jones,  1775,  Samuel  J 
Woodward,  1776,  Abraham  Biglow,  1782,  Ebenezer  Starrp^ 
1789,  Silas  Warren,  1795,  Isaac  Allen  and  Isaac  Fiske,  1798,  r 
Charles  Train,  1805,  Benjamin  Rand,  1808,  Alpheus  Biglow, 
1810,  Abraham  Harrington,  1812.  These  at  Cambridge, 
Isaac  Fiske  at  Providence,  1812. 


52 

age  of  man,  the  event  is  not  far  distant.  Should  he 
even  exceed  those  bounds,  comparing  the  future  with 
the  past,  there  is  but  a  step  between  him  and  the 
grave.  He  does  not  expect  to  attain  to  the  days  of 
the  years  of  his  fathers,  to  whom  long  life  has  been 
granted.  Permit  him  to  offer  the  friendly  counsel 
which  he  may  never  have  a  more  favourable  opportu- 
nity to  give. 

As  now,  so  when  he  shall  have  rested  from  his  la- 
bours, Be  at  peace  amongst  yourselves,  and  mark  them 
that  cause  divisions.  Nothing  ought  to  be  more  dread- 
ed than  a  spirit  of  contention.  When  you  shall  be- 
come destitute  of  a  minister,  take  early  care  to  fill  the 
vacancy.  In  this  attempt  seek  first  the  blessing  and 
direction  of  heaven,  not  in  a  mere  formal,  but  in  a 
sincere  and  devout  manner.  In  connexion  with  this 
apply  to  the  most  serious  and  judicious  ministers  in 
the  vicinity  for  advice.  But  receive  with  caution  ad- 
vice that  may  be  offered  by  men  devoted  to  a  party, 
or  who  are  zealous  to  support  opinions  that  have  no 
necessary  connexion  with  evangelical  truth,  or  who 
have  not  charity  for  such  as  differ  from  them  in  points 
that  have  long  divided  the  christian  world.  With 
pure  and  upright  intentions  such  men  will  be  apt  to 
consider  a  conformity  to  their  own  mode  of  thinking 
on  subjects  of  speculation  an  essential  qualification  for 
the  ministerial  office,  and  to  overlook  a  deficiency  in 
other  very  requisite  qualifications.  Under  impres- 
sions of  this  kind,  good  men  may  excite  unreasonable 
fears  and  prejudices  among  a  people  who  are  seeking 
a  good  minister. 


53 

The  fathers  of  this  town,  under  circumstances 
now  in  contemplation,  applied  to  the  President  of  the 
College  for  advice.  In  general  he,  and  the  other  of- 
ficers of  the  institution  have  the  most  correct  knowl- 
edge of  the  talents,  learning,  and  character  of  the  stu- 
dents in  divinity,  or  candidates  for  the  ministry  ;  and 
it  may  be  expected  they  will  be  as  little  influenced  by 
personal  considerations,  or  party  feelings,  as  any  men 
in  the  community. 

A  minister  that  loves  the  people  of  his  charge,  or 
regards  the  honour  of  the  institutions  of  religion,  can 
have  no  wish  nearer  his  heart,  than  that  there  may  al- 
ways be  a  succession  of  serious  evangelical  preachers, 
who  will  not  amuse,  nor  perplex,  their  hearers  with 
empty  speculations,  but  feed  them  with  knowledge, 
the  knowledge  of  Christ,  and  of  the  uncorrupted  doc- 
trines of  his  gospel. 

It  has  long  been  the  settled  opinion  of  the  speak- 
er, that  a  destitute  society  ought  with  good  advice  to 
fix  their  minds  upon  a  candidate,  and  then  let  him 
have  no  rival  in  their  hearts ;  but  prove  him  to  their 
satisfaction,  and  as  they  judge,  so  act.  This  should 
be  the  course  till  they  obtain  their  object.  The  idea 
of  having  several  candidates  in  view,  at  the  same  time, 
in  order  to  a  choice,  is  not  favourable  to  union  and 
harmony,  nor  to  the  wisest  election.  The  caution  is 
to  be  taken  in  the  preparatory  steps,  and  not  by  open- 
ing the  way  for  invidious  comparison.  The  first  that 
unites  the  hearts  of  a  people  should  be  called  to  the 
office,  without  gratifying  a  curiosity  to  hear  others. 
This  rarelv  fails  to  create  a  division  in  sentiment.     As 


54 

men  have  different  tastes,  so  they  will  be  pleased  with 
different  objects.  Multiply  the  objects,  and  union  in 
the  choice  of  any  one  of  them  can  hardly  be  expected. 

One  word  of  counsel  more.  Let  me  entreat  you, 
my  brethren,  to  guard  your  christian  liberty,  to  study 
the  principles  of  the  reformation,  to  look  at  the  exam- 
ples of  our  forefathers,  and  to  exercise  and  defend 
your  rights  as  a  church  of  Christ,  amenable  only  to 
your  Lord  and  Master  for  your  faith  and  worship.  Be 
not  entangled  with  any  yoke  of  bondage.  As  St. 
Paul  said  to  the  Philipians,  "  Beware  of  the  conci- 
sion ;"  so  I  say  unto  you,  brethren,  Beware  of  conso- 
ciation. Never  suffer  this  engine  to  enter  within  the 
walls  of  this  church.  The  contents  of  its  dark  cav- 
ern would  prove  as  destructive  of  congregational  prin- 
ciples, and  of  the  liberty  our  fathers  asserted,  as  those 
in  the  fabled  Grecian  horse  were  to  ancient  Troy.  Re- 
member, brethren,  I  have  told  you  beforehand,  and 
warned  and  exhorted  you  as  a  father.  Be  persuaded 
always  to  stand  fast  in  the  liberty  wherewith  Christ 
hath  made  you  free,  and  thus  prove  yourselves  the 
genuine  and  worthy  offspring  of  the  fathers,  whose 
deeds  we  this  day  commemorate. 

Innovations  are,  in  general,  hazardous  experi- 
ments. Though  they  may  remedy  some  evils,  they 
frequently  open  a  door  for  others  of  a  more  serious  na- 
ture. If  attempted  and  effected  by  secret  combina- 
tions, they  rarely  fail  to  produce  a  strong  excitement 
and  jealousy  in  the  publick  mind.  To  give  encour- 
agement, or  facility,  to  a  few  restless  members  of  a 
community  to  disturb  the  peace,  and  disappoint  the 


55 

hopes  of  a  religious  society  would  be  an  evil,  for  which 
we  should  not  readily  find  a  counterbalance  in  any 
good  produced. 

The  idea,  which  some  entertain,  that,  in  order  to 
the  union  and  prosperity  of  our  churches,  a  tribunal 
must  be  erected,  which  shall  be  as  decisive  in  all  eccle- 
siastical affairs,  as  our  civil  tribunals  are  in  matters 
that  come  before  them,  is  not  very  consistent  with  con- 
gregational principles,  nor  with  the  liberty  of  individu- 
al churches.  It  is  devoutly  to  be  desired,  that  the  con- 
gregational churches  in  Massachusetts  may  have  too 
high  a  respect  for  the  examples  of  their  fathers  to  yield 
their  liberty  to  any  such  tribunal,  under  whatever  name 
it  may  be  known.  The  union  and  prosperity  of  the 
churches  may  be  promoted  in  a  way  more  congenial 
with  the  spirit  of  the  gospel ;  that  is,  by  putting  on 
that  charity  which  is  the  bond  of  perfectness ;  not  by 
claiming  dominion  over  each  other's  faith,  but  by  be- 
ing helpers  of  each  other's  joy.  May  this  charity 
reign  in  your  hearts,  this  benevolence  appear  in  your 
lives  ;  and  may  the  God  of  peace  dwell  among  you, 
and  endue  you  with  the  richest  blessings  of  his  grace. 


APPENDIX. 


Weston  lies  about  thirteen  miles  west  of  Boston.  The  post 
road  from  Boston  to  New  York  passes  through  the  ceutre  of 
the  town.  Twenty  years  ago  it  was  thought  that  there  was 
more  travel  on  this  road  than  on  any  other  of  equal  distance 
from  any  capital  city  in  the  union.  Some  diversion  of  the 
travel  has  been  made,  of  late  years,  by  turnpikes,  and  by  other 
improvements  of  publiek  roads;  but  still  it  is  a  post  road  which 
retains  a  large  portion  of  the  travel.  There  is  a  post  office  in 
the  town,  A  very  considerable  road,  leading  to  Lancaster, 
passes  through  the  north  part  of  the  town;  another  of  less  tra- 
vel, leading  to  Framingham,  through  the  south  part  of  the 
town. 

The  town  is  bounded,  north,  on  Lincoln  ;  east,  on  Wal- 
tham,  stony  brook  being  in  part  the  line  ;  southeast,  on  Charles 
river,  which  divides  it  from  Newton  ;  south,  on  Ncedham, 
which  was  originally  a  part  of  Dedhain ;  southwest,  on  Natick  ; 
west,  on  East-Sudbury.  It  is  in  general  an  uneven,  and  in 
some  parts,  a  broken  tract  of  land.  High  clefts,  or  ledges,  of 
rocks  are  found  within  its  limits.  Probably  Mount  Feake, 
and  the  other  very  high  rock,  mentioned  in  Gov.  Winthrop's 
Journal,  lie  within  its  boundary.  A  considerable  proportion 
of  the  town  is  elevated  above  the  common  level  of  the  adjacent 
country,  and  gives  an  extensive  view  of  other  parts.  A  hill  of 
excellent  land  on  the  southwesterly  part  of  the  town  presents 
a  very  extensive,  and,  in  the  month  of  May,  a  very  romantick 
prospect.  The  soil  in  the  elevated  and  rocky  parts  of  the 
town  is,  in  general,  a  deep  red  strong  loam,  very  favourable  to 
the  growth  of  fruit  trees.  There  are  several  tracts  of  plain 
land  :  but  these  are  of  no  considerable  extent.     The  hills  are 


57 

mostly  springy,  and  very  little  subject  either  to  frost  or  drought. 
A  number  of  brooks  and  rivulets  accommodate  the  inhabitants^ 
and  pay  their  tribute  to  the  bordering  streams.  The  greatest 
part  of  these  brooks  rise  within  the  town,  and  are  fed  by  springs. 
A  part  of  jVone-such-Pond,  so  called,  falls  within  the  south- 
western limits  of  the  town.  There  are  few  or  no  stagnant 
waters  ;  but  several  tracts  of  meadow  that  abound  with  excel- 
lent peat.  There  are  no  very  noticeable  natural  curiosities,  ex- 
cept a  horizontal  cave  which  is  found  on  the  westerly  side  of 
Snake-rock,  so  called,  near  Stony-Brook  bridge.  This  cave 
is  not  large  at  its  entrance,  nor  in  any  of  its  known  dimensions. 
Tradition  says  that  it  has  formerly  been  the  depository  of  stol- 
en goods. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  town  are  mostly  industrious  farmers, 
a  class  of  men,  which,  in  a  country  like  ours,  merits  the  high 
consideration  and  esteem  of  every  other  class. 

There  is  a  congregational,  baptist,  and  methodist  meeting- 
house within  the  territory.  The  town  is  divided  into  six  school- 
districts,  each  having  a  school-house,  and  its  proportion  of 
schooling. 

On  the  whole,  the  town,  notwithstanding  its  rocky  and  rug- 
ged appearance  in  some  parts  of  it,  is  pleasant,  and  contains  a 
considerable  portion  of  good  land.  The  character  of  its  inhab- 
itants would  not  suffer  by  a  comparison  with  those  of  almost 
any  other  town  in  the  Commonwealth  of  no  greater  advantages. 
They  have  merited  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  writer 
for  thirty  years  5  and  will  accept  his  acknowledgments  for  the 
candour,  with  which  they  have,  in  general,  treated  him,  and 
accepted  his  services  among  them. 

8 


58 


NOTE  (on  Dr.  Kendal's  Note,  p.  ±9  J  by  Ji.  H. 

The  Author  of  the  Sermon,  in  a  letter  to  the  writer  of  this 
Note,  observes  :  "  The  Note  relating  to  the  order  in  which 
u  Watertown  church  is  placed,  was  inserted  to  invite  inquiry. 
"  Truth  should  be  the  only  object.  As  you  have  been  so 
K  obliging,  as  to  inspect  the  proof  sheets,  and,  observing  that 
**  note,  to  make  further  inquiry  into  the  subject;  by  placing 
"  the  result  of  your  investigation  immediately  after  my  short 
a  Appendix,  you  will  increase  the  obligations  of 

"  Your  friend  and  brother, 

«  S.  K." 


The  argument  for  arranging  the  ehurches  in  a  different  order,  from 
that  generally  observed  in  our  histories,  is  founded  on  the  single  fact, 
That  the  Watertown  settlers  entered  into  Covenant  July  30,  1630.  The 
question  is,  Was  a  church  formed  at  the  signing  of  this  Covenant  I  Or, 
Was  this  a  preparatory  solemnity  ?  The  supposition  in  your  Note  is, 
That  the  church  was  then  formed  ;  the  following  considerations  may  fur- 
nish presumptive  evidence,  That  it  ivas  hut  a  preparatory  exercise. 

1.  The  Fast,  observed  that  day,  was  not  for  the  purpose  of  gathering 
churches.  At  the  instance  of  governor  Winthrop,  the  30th  day  of  July, 
1630,  was  observed  as  a  day  of  solemn  fasting  and  prayer,  by  all  the  peo- 
ple in  Massachusetts,  and  by  the  people  of  Plymouth.  (Prince,  p.  243. 
Morton's  N.  Eng.  Memorial,  A.  D.  1630.)  The  first  cause  of  this  solem- 
nity was,  nothing  of  an  ecclesiastical  nature,  but  the  prevalent  sickness  at 
Charlestown.  A  secondary  design  of  it  was,  "  to  seek  the  Lord  in  his 
'•  ordinances,  that  then  such  godly  persons  among  them  as  know  each 
"  other,  may  publickly  at  the  end  of  their  exercise  make  known  their  de- 
"  sire  and  practise  the  same  by  solemnly  entering  into  covenant  with  him 
"  to  walk  in  his  ways."  (Prince,  243.  Morton.)  At  the  close  of  the 
public  solemnity  of  the  day,  governor  Winthrop,  deputy  governor  Dud- 
ley, Mr.  Johnson,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Wilson,  of  the  Charlestown  settlers,  and 
Sir  R.  Saltonstal  and  others  of  the  Watertown  settlers,  subscribed  res- 
pectively a  covenant.  Had  the  formation  of  a  church  been  intended,  in 
either  of  these  instances,  would  not  the  design  have  been  more  distinctly 
declared  beforehand,  and  the  public  solemnity  itself  expressly  directed 
to  this  great  object,  agreeably  to  the  usage  of  the  New  England  church- 
es from  the  beginning  ? 

2.  Though  a  covenant  was  signed  at  Charlestown  30  July,  1630,  yet 
the  church  is  not  dated  from  that  day.  A  supposition  is  made  in  your 
Note,  that  the  four,  who  signed  the  covenant  at  Charlestown,  "agreed 
"  upon  a  form  of  covenant,  and  took  preparatory  steps  to  the  gathering  of 
"  a  church,  which  was  effected  the  27th  of  the  following  month."  These 
four,  not  being  a  competent  number,  "  might  not  consider  themselves  to 
"  be  a  church,  but  design  to  prepare  the  way  to  erect  one  in  due  form." 
Had  not  such  preparation  been  judged  expedient,  it  would  seem  strange, 
that  the  Charlestown  church  was  not  organized  in  due  form  on  the  same 
day.  The  want  of  a  sufficient  number  of  candidates  for  membership  can 
hardly  be  supposed,  when  it  is  considered,  that  all  the  fleet  had  now  an 


59 

rived  from  England  ;  that  seven  ships  had  come  into  Charlestown  during 
the  month  of  July  ;  and  that  when  the  church  was  formed,  27  August 
following,  about  90  were  admitted  members.  [See  Emerson's  Hist,  of 
First  Church.]  Jf,  then,  the  Fathers  of  the  colony  thought  it  proper  to 
have  a  covenant  subscribed,  preparatory  to  the  organization  of  a  church, 
why  might  not  the  Watertown  people  entertain  the  same  opinion,  and  ob- 
serve the  same  preliminary  ? 

3.  The  Form  of  the  Covenant,  subscribed  by  the  Watertown  settlers, 
bears  marks  of  a  more  general  design  than  that  of  organization  :  "  Be- 
"  ing  safely  arrived  here,  and  thus  far  onwards  peaceably  preserved  by 
"  his  special  Providence,  that  we  may  bring  forth  our  intentions  into  ac- 
"  tions  and  perfect  our  resolutions,  in  the  beginnings  of  some  just  and 
"  meet  executions,  we  have  separated  the  day — and  dedicated  it  whol- 
•'  ly  to  the  Lord — that  we  might  know  what  was  good  in  his  sight.'* — 
"  And  the  Lord  was  intreated  for  us.  For  in  the  end  of  that  day  after 
"  the  finishing  of  our  publick  duties,  we  do  all,  before  we  depart,  solemn- 
"  ly  and  with  all  our  hearts,  personally,  man  by  man,  for  ourselves  and 
"  our's  promise," &c.  Morton's  manner  of  relating  the  public  solemnity  of 
July  30  is  not  unlike  the  above,  and  seems  to  denote  an  incipient  and  prepar- 
atory exercise,  not  the  complete  formation  of  a  church  :  "  And  the  Lord 
"  was  entreated  not  only  to  asswage  the  sickness,  but  also  encouraged 
"  their  hearts  to  a  beginning,  and  in  some  short  time  after  to  a  further 
"  progress  in  the  great  work  of  erecting  a  way  of  worshipping  of  Christ 
••  in  church  fellowship,  according  to  the  primitive  institution."  Memorial. 
Dr.  Mather's  manner  of  narrating  this  transaction,  in  the  Magnalia,  de- 
serves notice  :  "  About  40  men  subscribed  this  instrument,  in  order  to 
"  their  coalescence  into  a  Church  Estate.  But  in  after  time,  they  that  join- 
"  ed  unto  the  Church,  subscribed  a  Form  of  the  Covenant  somewhat  alter- 
"  ed,  with  a  Confession  of  Faith  annexed  unto  it." 

4.  It  was  the  early  practice  of  the  New  England  churches  toobserve  a  day 
of  Fasting  and  Prayer,  previously  to  the  organization  of  a  church,  and  to 
sign  a  covenant  personally  by  themselves  on  that  day.  For  this  fact  we 
have  Dr.  C.  Mather's  own  authority.  "  The  persons  who  are  engaging 
"  and  combining  for  the  weighty  undertaking  of  gathering  a  Church,  set 
"  apart  a  day  to  be  spent  by  them  together  in  Prayer  with  Fasting,  that  they 
"  may  prepare  for  what  is  before  them,  and  confess  their  dependence  on 
"  Heaven  for  favours  which  they  own  themselves  unworthy  of,  and  obtain 
"  the  blessing  of  God  (on  which  day  they  privately  together  sign  their 
"  covenant).  Sometimes  more  than  one  such  day  ;  sometimes  in  a  pub- 
"  lie  assembly,  where  the  neighbouring  pastors  come  to  instruct  and  as- 
"  sist  them.  They  think  it  proper  to  make  a  very  great  preparation  for 
"  an  undertaking  the  most  holy,  and  awful,  and  heavenly,  that  can  be  on 
"  this  side  of  Heaven  engaged  in.— In  time  convenient  the  good  men  of 
"  this  intention,  (who  from  first  to  last,  privately  wait  upon  pastors  in  the 
"  neighbourhood  for  their  direction)  send  letters  unto  the  pastors  and 
**  churches  of  the  neighbouring  towns" — The  Council,  thus  invited,  con- 
venes, '*  and  chusing  their  moderator,  the  candidates  of  the  new  church 
"  appear  before  them,  and  present  unto  them  a  Confession  of  their  Faith, 
"  and  therewithal  the  Covenant  or  Engagement,  in  which  they  recognize 
■  their  obligations,  &c.  They  produce  also  the  testimonials  of  the  allow- 
"  ance  which  the  churches  whereto  they  formerly  belonged,  have  given 
"  them  to  transfer  their  more  immediate  relation  unto  the  society  now  to 
"  be  gathered."  Ratio  Discipline  Fratrum  Nov-Anglorum,  p.  3,  4.  ■  ■ 
An  example  of  this  usage  is  recorded  by  Dr.  Trumbull.    The  New  Ha- 


60 

ven  settlers  arrived  at  Quinipiack  in  April,  1638.  Soon  after,  on  a  day  of 
fasting  and  prayer,  "  the  first  day  of  extraordinary  humiliation  they  had 
"  after  they  came  together,"  they  entered  into  a  solemn  covenant,  "  That 
"  as  in  matters  that  concern  the  gathering  and  ordering  of  a  church,  so 
"  likewise  in  all  public  offices  which  concern  civil  order,  &c— — — they 
'•  would  all  of  them  be  ordered  by  the  rules,  which  the  scripture  held 
n  forth  to  them.  This  covenant  was  called  a  plantation  covenant,  to  dis- 
"  tinguish  it  from  a  church  covenant,  a  church  not  being  then  gathered, 
"  but  was  deferred  till  a  church  might  be  gathered,  according  to  God." 
See  Fundamental  articles  of  the  colony  of  New  Haven  in  Trumbull's 
Hist,  of  Connecticut,  i.  p.  534.  On  this  subject  Dr.  Trumbull  remarks  : 
"  This  was  adopted  as  a  general  agreement,  until  there  should  be  time 
'•  for  the  people  to  become  more  intimately  acquainted  with  each  other's 
"  religious  views,  sentiments,  and  moral  conduct ;  which  was  supposed 
"  to  be  necessary  to  prepare  the  way  for  their  covenanting  together,  as 
"  Christians,  in  church  state."  Ibid.  p.  91.  The  church  of  New  Haven 
(as  appears  from  the  same  History,  p.  298  )  was  not  gathered  until  the 
22  August,  1639.  The  church  of  Salem,  in  1629,  appears  to  have  been 
formed  in  the  same  manner,  after  "  a  day  of  religious  preparation."    See 

Prince,  190,  and  Bentley's  Hist.  Salem  in  Hist.  Coll.  vi.  242. Although 

therefore,  when  cursorily  treating  of  the  Watertown  settlers,  in  a  Bio- 
graphical sketch  of  their  minister  (Rev.  Mr.  Phillips),  Dr.  Mather  seems 
to  represent  them  as  formed  into  a  church  state  30  July,  1630  ;  yet  there 
is  room  to  doubt,  whether  he  considered  the  covenant,  signed  on  that  day, 
as  the  formation  of  a  church. 

5.  That  he  did  not  so  consider  it,  we  should  naturally  infer  from  his 
own  arrangement  of  the  order  of  churches,  when  professedly  giving  a 
Historical  account  of"  The  Progress  of  the  New  Colony."  Magnalia, 
Book  I.  chap.  v.  "  First,  there  was  a  church  thus  gathered  at  Charles- 
'.'  town,  on  the  north  side  of  Charles  River;  where  keeping  a  solemn 
"  Fast  on  August  27, 1630,  to  implore  the  conduct  and  blessing  of  heaven 
"  on  their  Ecclesiastical  Proceedings  they  chose  Mr.  Wilson  to  be  their 
"  teacher— —After  the  gathering  of  the  church  at  Charlestown  there 
"  quickly  followed  another  at  the  town  of  Dorchester.  And  after  Dor- 
"  Chester  there  followed  another  at  the  town  of  Boston,  which  issued 

"out  of  Charlestown To  Boston  soon  succeeded  a  church  at  Roxbc- 

"ry;  to  Roxburv,  one  at  Lyk;  to  Lyn,  one  at  Watertown." 


ERRATA. 
Page  10,  line  16  from  top,  for  '  churces,'  read  churches. 
Page  19,  line  10  from  top,  for  '  history,'  read  affairs. 
Page  33,  line  13  from  bottom,  for  '  next  precinct,'  read  west  precinct. 
Page  45,  in  the  note,  last  line  of  first  paragraph,  after  *  89th,'  insert  year. 


